SAN LUIS OBISPO — A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court jury Feb. 8 found Travis Ray Dawson of San Miguel guilty of transportation of methamphetamine and heroin for the purpose of sale, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, possession of methamphetamine, driving on a suspended license and providing false information to a peace officer, according to the SLO County District Attorney’s Office.

COUNTY — The program RVs for Veterans, originally created in 2013 by Hope’s Village of SLO, is now being run by local nonprofit Common Ground Worldwide.
This program helps to connect unhoused veterans and their families with local individuals who have an unwanted motorhome, trailer, or fifth wheel they’d like to pass along to someone in need. It’s a simple gift from one person to another — no money is exchanged, and no liability is incurred. The nonprofit organization functions as a “matchmaker,” facilitating a connection between unhoused veterans and locals with RVs to pass along to them. Once the connection has been made, both parties go to the DMV together to transfer title, the new owner obtains insurance, and he or she drives off with a new home on wheels. To date, 85 people have been housed through this program.

St. William’s Catholic Church Hobby Fellowship group donated over $4,000 that was equally divided between ECHO Homeless Shelter and Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. This creative craft group meets monthly to produce items that are sold at their annual boutique sale. From left to right is Wendy Lewis, ECHO CEO, receiving a check from Larry Stallings, St. William’s Catholic Church Hobby Fellowship Chair. Monica Innes, a member of the Hobby Fellowship Group is presenting a check to Loaves and Fishes President Tim Eckles. Back row, Father Edwin and ECHO Board President Eric Gobler.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A student living in San Luis Obispo and attending Cuesta College has died from presumed bacterial meningitis, according to the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department.
Laboratory testing to confirm this diagnosis is underway. Due to the serious nature of the illness, the Public Health Department is working with local hospitals, Cuesta College and people close to the student to identify any individuals who may have a potential risk of infection. Those individuals are receiving preventive antibiotics.
“This loss is devastating for everyone involved,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, Health Officer of the County of San Luis Obispo. “Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and everyone who cared about this young person.”

VALLEJO — The USDA Forest Service announced Monday, Feb. 11, that an additional 18 million trees, mostly conifers, died in California since fall 2017. Over 147 million trees have died across 9.7 million acres of federal, state, local and private lands in California since the drought began in 2010. Since 2016, federal, state, and local partners have felled 1.5 million dead trees, primarily those posing the highest hazards to life and property.

PASO ROBLES — The California Mid-State Fair Home Winemaking Competition is now accepting entries. The competition will take place in May and feature wines made from both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
The wines are separated into six categories: white, rose/blanc, red, dessert, wines made with fruit other than grapes and sparkling. The categories are then separated into classes by varietal.

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office welcomed Wellpath as the new contracted provider for Jail Health Care Services, officially starting Feb. 1. Wellpath has been preparing to transition health care services over the past few months after finalizing a contract on Dec. 11, 2018. The services outlined in the contract include: medical, behavioral health, and dental care, and are consistent with the national standard of Jail Health Care as defined by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).
The decision to contract out Jail Health Care Services was made by the Board of Supervisors in September of 2018 after a process of research and deliberation about the best way to deliver high-quality inmate care.

PASO ROBLES —The Central Coast Olive Oil Competition, hosted annually by the California Mid-State Fair and in partnership with the Lodi Grape Festival, is now accepting entries. The 11th annual competition will take place in April 2019 and will be featuring olive oil from across the state of California.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Fire San Luis Obispo Unit has identified goals for wildfire prevention in San Luis Obispo County for 2019. With an ever-present need for wildfire readiness in our county, Fire Chief Scotty Jalbert has prioritized a few proactive measures to reduce the threat of wildfire this year. This year’s plan includes:

UPDATE: Due to high winds and rain the booth location for the Templeton Firefighters with Flowers for a Cure event has been changed. Flowers will be sold today, Wednesday, Feb. 13 at the Templeton Fire Station located at 206 5th Street from noon to 6 p.m.
On Valentine’s Day, the flower booth will still be located at two locations. The Templeton Fire Station at 206 5th Street from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and BarrelHouse Brewing Company from noon to 6 p.m.
TEMPLETON — Templeton Fire Department firefighters will sell flowers for Valentine’s Day to raise money to find a cure for leukemia and lymphoma. They started on Saturday, Feb. 9 and will continue through 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, Feb. 14. Firefighters with Flowers for a Cure will have a booth in downtown Templeton selling a variety of flowers, including roses.

ATASCADERO — A tree fell into an apartment complex on Amapoa Road Wednesday, Feb. 13, morning and eight people were displaced, the City of Atascadero reported.
The apartments were in the 8000 block of Amapoa Avenue. A nearby resident reported the downed tree early that morning around 7:15 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO — Valentine's Day is fast approaching and many customers will celebrate with festive bundles of metallic balloons. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) urges customers to securely tie a weight to all metallic balloons containing helium to prevent them from floating away. Metallic balloons that contact overhead power lines can disrupt electric service to an entire neighborhood, cause significant property damage and potentially result in serious injuries.

ATASCADERO — The last time Susan Funk “performed” as a dancer it was a wedding waltz with her new husband, Gordon, 24 years ago. And sharp eyes have spotted her as an enthusiastic participant in group dancing during free concerts this summer at Atascadero Lake Park. But now Susan is entering the ranks of those brave women and men who have no “real” dance performance experience but are willing to go public as a Community Star, participating in Dancing With Our Stars (DWOS) to support a worthy, local non-profit.
The funds that Susan secures will help underwrite AAUW’s scholarship program. Susan shares: “I love the work AAUW is doing to empower girls and women in their education. I have been blessed with wonderful educational opportunities myself and I know how powerful it can be to get a little extra encouragement or support at the right time.”

TEMPLETON — Come meet your favorite fairytale friends and superheroes in Templeton Park on Sunday, Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a fun filled event. The first hour will be princess stories, sing alongs and dancing. The second hour will be superhero movement demonstrations, pledge and dance battle. The final hour all princesses and superheroes will be available for photos and meet and greet. All this for only $20! Bring your little princesses and heroes in their favorite costumes. This is a fundraiser event for North County Theatre Works and the Templeton Performing Arts Center Foundation.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu San Luis Obispo celebrated its 10-year anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 2, with the promotion of three new black belt recipients.
Paso Robles Police Department Chief Ty Lewis, business owner Larry Nash, and Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Arroyo Grande co-owner John Marine, all received their black belts. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt is the most prestigious and challenging belt awarded in martial arts — requiring the average student a minimum of 10 years of training to achieve.

NORTH COUNTY — Kennedy Club Fitness Paso Robles and Atascadero will soon be offering a new program designed to help those who are living with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular and autoimmune conditions. Neuro Fitness participants will receive individualized exercise guidance and weekly group fitness classes that incorporate strength, endurance, balance and flexibility.
Personal Trainer, Natalie Cooks, has a master’s in Kinesiology and Exercise Science and 10 years of experience in health and fitness including cardiac rehab, physical therapy, medically-based exercise programming and health coaching.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cuesta College’s 2019 Book of the Year program will bring renowned Mexican-American Chicana scholar, novelist, and poet Ana Castillo to San Luis Obispo on March 5 to discuss her memoir “Black Dove: Mama, Mi’jo and Me.” Castillo will appear for a presentation and book-signing event at the Cuesta College Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center (CPAC). General admission tickets for the public ($15) are now on sale at tickets.cuesta.edu. Tickets for Cuesta students are free; RSVP at [email protected] Castillo will also lead a classroom discussion with Cuesta College’s North County Campus students in Paso Robles.

Apollo is currently staying with a foster who is experienced with German Shepherds and has great things to say about this boy. He is very well-mannered and rides happily in the car. He is also crate trained. Apollo walks well on leash and does great on his walks, but he is strong. Apollo loves to play and has great energy. He prefers the company of female dogs.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Brent Burchett, Division Director of Plant Marketing, in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, has been selected by the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau as its new executive director. He succeeds Lynn Diehl, who became executive director in 2014, and is retiring, in February, after a four-decade career, which includes media, government communications, and as a strong advocate for local agriculture through Farm Bureau.

On Monday, Jan. 28, the Atascadero Fire Department with the assistance from Atascadero State Hospital Fire Department, Cal Fire San Luis Obispo and Templeton Fire Department responded to a chimney fire in the 8000 block of San Rafael Road. The fire was quickly contained to the area surrounding the chimney.

ATASCADERO — A man collided with the center divider going southbound on Highway 101, on Thursday, Jan. 24 in Atascadero and was injured, according to California Highway Patrol.
John Mark Fuller, 67, of Chico, was driving his 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser when he drifted into the center divider approximately two miles from Santa Barbara Road.

ATASCADERO — On Jan. 18, the Creston Elementary School’s fourth- and fifth-grade class had a blast hosting a Science Camp fundraiser at the Atascadero Agricultural Hall. The party started with a Spaghetti Dinner donated by the Ag Hall, and prepared by Jodi Tellier, as the students did their part by serving food and drinks to all of the attendees.
Over 100 people turned out for dinner and took part in the silent auction that was made possible through the generous donations of local wineries, businesses and area residents. Not only was there dinner and a silent auction, but there was also a raffle with door prizes, dance lessons by Cammie Velci and Brian Reeves of A-Town Ballroom, plus dancing and music by deejay and emcee, Joy Bonner.

COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries are offering a new eBook and eAudiobook service called cloudLibrary. cloudLibrary provides access to electronic materials from libraries across California. Beginning Feb. 1, County of San Luis Obispo Public Library cardholders will have access to a free new eBook/eAudiobook service called cloudLibrary.

COUNTY — For sixteen years RISE has hosted Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an event aimed at raising awareness about sexual violence and empowering SLO County to take action. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, a national franchise, is notable for encouraging community members, male and female alike, to don high heeled shoes and walk a mile throughout town - an act of solidarity with survivors of sexual assault and a conversation starter about the difficult topic.
After extensive discussion, market research, and feedback from RISE staff, board members, and community supporters alike, RISE has decided to retire the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. This decision was made in an effort to address some of the problematic messaging of Walk a Mile as well as a pattern of declining revenue and attendance.

COUNTY — Woods Humane Society Executive Director Jill Tucker is resigning to become the CEO for the California Animal Welfare Association (Cal Animals).
In a statement the Woods Humane Society said that under Tucker’s leadership, they have broadened its impact for animals through a facility expansion, a merger with the North County Humane Society in Atascadero, and the opening of SLO County’s first public spay and neuter clinic. During this time, the organization has also more than tripled its lifesaving capacity by dramatically increasing animal intakes and adoptions.

NORTH COUNTY — A woman was arrested after a high-speed chase Monday, Jan. 21, afternoon in the North County, the California Highway Patrol reported.
On Monday, Jan. 21 at approximately 2:30 p.m., a Templeton California Highway Patrol officer responded to the area of southbound US 101 at Del Rio Road in Atascadero for a report of a reckless vehicle driving in and out of lanes and speeding.

ATASCADERO — Chef Antonio Varia, of Buona Tavola, and the Atascadero Printery Foundation are coming together on Feb. 9 to create a night that involves murder and mystery plus wine and food by Chef Varia.
The volunteers of the Atascadero Printery Foundation will be putting on “Til Death Do We Part- a Murder Mystery Dinner” along with Varia who is preparing a five-course dinner to benefit the Atascadero Printery Foundation.
The Foundation recently purchased the historic Printery — the first civic building completed in Atascadero, and are working to raise funds to bring the old building back to life.

NORTH COUNTY — During the past week, the North County experienced icy winter storm conditions. Starting on Feb. 1 and 2 rain and winds up to 40 to 60 mph with gusts as high as 80 mph pummeled homes and businesses. Temperatures dipped into the teens and 20s. Trees fell over and power was cut in many areas on Saturday in Atascadero and Templeton. Halcon Road in Atascadero washed out once again late on Saturday, according to local residents and officials.
The winter storms over the past week produced a total of 5.76 inches of rain for Atascadero and 3.54 inches for Paso Robles bringing the season totals for Atascadero to 16.56 inches and for Paso Robles to 13.47 inches.

ATASCADERO An Atascadero man was arrested and his 4-year-old son was found safe Thursday afternoon, the Atascadero Police Department reported.
On Thursday, Jan. 31, APD responded to a missing person’s report involving suspicious circumstances involving the pair.
During the investigation, Atascadero police learned that the resident, Cody Parrott, had been acting irrationally. Parrott reportedly left the residence sometime during the night and took his 4-year-old son, Noah Parrot, with him and police believe he may be at risk.

The Hilton location, which will be run by a management company rather than by the Madonna family directly as is the famous San Luis Obispo attraction, is almost as tall as it’s going to get. Work started on the fourth story of the structure last week and commuters between Atascadero and Paso Robles will have noticed the edifice springing up from the vacant lot quite rapidly since work started in September 2018.

In October 2018 the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission approved a Conditional Use Permit for a cannabis distribution facility and mobile delivery dispensary on El Camino Real in Santa Margarita near Highway 58.
At the time, said Sommer Shahan, co-owner of Sungrown Wellness Inc., the main block to reopening what had been a functioning non-profit delivering medicinal cannabis to local clients was the application process for a California State license under a newly approved business model.
In January 2019 they now have that license, and a location in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, but they’re prevented from opening just yet as County Planning and Building approval processes are now taking the lion’s share of their efforts and funding.

ATASCADERO — Congregation Ohr Tzafon will be hosting a special celebration on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the lessons he still teaches today about being courageous in continuing the fight for equality and civil rights for all in America. The presentation will also highlight the remarkable friendship between Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The celebration will take place on Sunday, Jan. 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Congregation Ohr Tzafon, 2605 Traffic Way, Atascadero.

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo Regional CERT will hold their annual meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the SLO Veterans Memorial Building, 801 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo. This event is open to the public.
The San Luis Obispo Regional CERT will share informaton related to disaster preparedness throughout SLO County. They will report on last year’s accomplishments, (formation of a South County CERT program and training individuals to administer CERT courses); and there will be a discussion of 2019 goals (creating a new North County CERT program and implementing Disaster Service Worker coverage for all CERT volunteers).

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is proud to announce that Courtney Johnson will be joining the staff as Deputy Director, Finance and Administration. She will start the new position Jan. 22, 2019.
Johnson comes to the airport from the Minter Field Airport District, where she served as Manager of Finance and Administration for six years. At Minter, she directed all accounting, personnel and administrative operations; leasing and property administration and oversaw the fiscal management of federal and state grant programs.

ATASCADERO — An Atascadero women, Lorena Anderson filed a lawsuit on Jan. 7 against Dignity Health, Dr. Maria Rasul, and Rite Aid Pharmacy. The lawsuit is for damages and a jury trial for negligence, medical negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress as the result of taking a medication that she was unaware would cause her to lose her unborn fetus.
In the lawsuit filed with the San Luis Obispo Superior Court, Anderson’s lawyers from The May Firm in San Luis Obispo stated that Anderson alleges that on March 20, 2018, she went to see Dr. Rasul at the Bishop’s Peak Women’s Health Center, located at 1941 Johnson Ave., Suite 301 in San Luis Obispo. The center is owned, maintained and operated by Dignity Health.

SANTA MARGARITA — “Big Bang Theory” star, Johnny Galecki has decided to put his Santa Margarita Ranch on the market for $825,000 according to the Central Coast Realty Group listing. Galecki, who recently was on the “Roseanne” reboot and now on “The Conners,” is expected to take a loss on this property since he originally purchased it for $1.2 million in 2017 according to records.

COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo is working to develop policies that would allow movable tiny houses in the unincorporated areas of the County.
With direction from the County Board of Supervisors, Planning and Building staff have been working on the County Housing Initiative Package, which is a set of policy solutions aiming to address housing affordability in the unincorporated areas of the County. One of the options that is being explored is policy for movable tiny houses.

COUNTY — As the government shutdown looms into its fourth week many aspects of the local and state government are starting to feel its effect. Here is the current breakdown of the programs that may have been impacted and their effect on our communities and residents.

ATASCADERO — Nine people were arrested Wednesday after a search warrant was served at a reported methamphetamine operation on Carrizo Road, the Atascadero Police Department.
On Jan. 16, the Atascadero Police Department, in partnership with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, served a narcotics and stolen property related search warrant at two adjoining properties in the 4900 block of Carrizo Road.

ATASCADERO — Tom Butler is representing the Atascadero Greyhound Foundation/Lighthouse as their Community Star for the 2019 Dancing with Our Stars (DWOS).
Tom comments, “I am so impressed by the commitment and service to the community by the Greyhound Foundation. I greatly appreciate the fact that the Greyhound Foundation realizes that the youth of today face true challenges and is willing to step up and provide real support that allows our youth to be successful.”
The mission of the Greyhound Foundation is particularly important to Tom, who has the weighty responsibility of being the superintendent of the Atascadero Unified School District, a position he has held since 2015.

ATASCADERO — El Camino Homeless Organization Homeless Shelter announced it has received a donation of $6,900 from the St. James Episcopal Church in Paso Robles. The donation was the result of a fundraiser held in November, the 10th annual Music for the Soul.
“We are very grateful to receive this donation,” said Wendy Lewis, president and CEO of ECHO. “This will help us maximize our living space inside the shelter and provide even more resources to the people we serve.”

PASADENA — Cal Poly universities’ “Far Out Frequencies,” featuring a pair of astronauts and a handful of animated extraterrestrials on an alien planet communicating through music, received the Extraordinaire Award for the most extraordinary float at the 130th Rose Parade held New Year’s Day.
The float, designed and built by teams of students from Cal Poly and California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, celebrates this year’s parade theme, “The Melody of Life,” by paying homage to music as a language for all. It is the fourth time in 71 appearances that the Cal Poly float has featured a space-related design.

Twin Cities Community Hospital has appointed Robert Cook as its new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO).
Effective immediately, Cook assumes responsibility for all nursing and designated patient care functions within Twin Cities Community Hospital. He also oversees and coordinates the nursing units and their daily operations. Cook most recently served as Interim CNO at Twin Cities, and previously held the titles of Chief Quality Officer, Director of Clinical Quality and Risk Management and Director of Medical Surgical Services.

COUNTY — Caltrans has completed the resurfacing of nearly nine lane miles of Highway 41 due to the funds from Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
“Highway 41 is heavily used as a major east-west route for commuters and tourists in northern San Luis Obispo County who frequent the beaches, campgrounds and tourist attractions along the Central Coast. This resurfacing project will ensure a smooth ride and safe commute for everyone,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman.

SACRAMENTO – New laws approved by the California Legislature in 2018 will affect roadway safety in several ways, including helmet use on bicycles and motorized scooters, hit-and-run on bicycle paths, modified exhaust systems, and enhanced safety for refuse collection vehicles. To support its mission of providing the highest levels of Safety, Service, and Security, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is highlighting several of these new laws.

ATASCADERO — Nancy Beckett was born to dance and she has danced all her life. Her dance lessons began at an early age and she has progressed from a student to a performer, then a teacher and a patron of the arts, especially the art of dance.
Nancy is on the board of the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation (PRYAF) and she is representing PRYAF as a Community Star in Dancing With Our Stars (DWOS), 2019. She tells us “PRYAF is dear to my heart. All classes are free! Dance, Art, Filming, Set Making, Music, Singing. PRYAF is a very special place.”

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office had a great time at the Christmas Bike Program Giveaway on Dec. 20. They would like to thank everyone who gave their time, finances, and talents to put bikes in the hands of local children. They are proud to have a program that recycles unwanted bikes, teaches a useful trade to inmates, and returns refurbished and donated bikes to members of the community.

ATASCADERO — The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Public Works will be performing roadway slope repair at Alamo Creek Road off State Highway 166. Work began Wednesday, Dec. 26, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Work will continue into mid-January, dependent upon the weather. The work will remove a failed slope embankment and reconstruct the slope with a repaved roadway.

Templeton Fire and Emergency Services continue to be excited about the results of #Giving Tuesday. To date, the Department has received $7,100. The most recent donation was presented by the Templeton Rabobank Branch for $1,000.

ATASCADERO — Terrie Banish is usually found backstage, creating and managing the production side of marketing and ad events as the Deputy City Manager — Outreach, Promotions and Events for the City of Atascadero. This year, Terrie steps front and center as a Community Star dancer for Friends of the Atascadero Library (FOAL).
As a youngster, Terrie had ballet and tap lessons but dance has not been part of her adult life. She shares that she feels “very honored” to be chosen as a Community Star, a role that she has thought about for several years.
Terrie says, “I have always enjoyed the library and the resources available that have personally helped me growing up from my childhood, through my college years and now through my adult years as I raise a family of my own. The library is a major educational resource that everyone in the community can grow and benefit from.”

COUNTY — San Luis Obispo County is working with community partners to provide some much-needed relief to the community’s housing problems.
Under the direction of the Board of Supervisors, the County Department of Planning and Building has partnered with the Coalition of Housing Partners to develop solutions that would provide some relief from the current housing needs in San Luis Obispo County.
Through research including a nexus study, the Coalition of Housing Partners found a $2-4 million gap in funding needed to provide the resources necessary to increase not only low-income housing, but workforce housing and middle-income housing as well.

TEMPLETON — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office caught the suspect Anthony Pamfilo Espinoza, who was wanted in connection to an armed robbery of a gas station in Templeton.
On the evening of Friday, Dec. 14, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the Chevron gas station in the 700 block of Las Tablas Road in Templeton.
It was reported a suspect tried to steal some alcohol from that location. The owner confronted the suspect. At that time, the suspect pulled on a black mask and then threatened the owner by indicating he had a weapon, although no weapon was seen. The owner was able to take a photo of the suspect as he fled the scene. The loss from the store is unknown.

SANTA MARIA — Adam Bros. Farming, Inc. is recalling red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce and cauliflower harvested Nov. 27 through 30, out of an abundance of caution, because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. coli O157:H7) a genetically related strain that was also isolated in ill people and caused the multistate outbreak in October and November.
The FDA urges the public from eating romaine lettuce from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Barbara counties. Originally any romaine lettuce harvested before Nov. 23 from San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz and Ventura counties was also on the “do not eat list.”
Since time has passed the fresh stock available to the public is now cleared to eat romaine from San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz and Ventura counties. As well as hydroponic or greenhouse-grown romaine lettuce, which has not been linked to the outbreak whatsoever.

TEMPLETON — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating Anthony Pamfilo Espinoza, who is wanted in connection to an armed robbery of a gas station in Templeton.
On Friday, Dec. 14, Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the Chevron gas station in the 700 block of Las Tablas Road in Templeton.

TEMPLETON — The Highway 101 on-ramp and off-ramp at Main Street in Templeton will be closed Monday, Dec. 17 through Friday, Dec. 21 from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. Time of actual work is dependent on weather conditions. The work will include removing and replacing existing pavement, laying a new paved surface, and reconstructing various roadside facilities.
For the safety of the public and workers, traffic on Main Street will be subject to detours or one-way controls with flaggers as required for each phase of work. Delays are expected to be up to 10 minutes during major operations. Motorists are advised to adjust their travel plans due to delays and or closures and consider alternative routes.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE — Team Vandenberg was scheduled to support the launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-6 on Friday, Dec. 7. That launch was rescheduled to Saturday, Dec. 8. and was scrubbed seconds before liftoff.
The launch was scrubbed on Friday, Dec. 7 “due to an issue with a redundant communication link between the control center and the launch site,” according to a statement by United Launch Alliance.

ATASCADERO — The holiday season is upon us and the zookeepers have stepped in as Santa’s Elves to prepare gifts for the animals for the Central Coast’s only Zoo. Santa will be at the Zoo on Saturday, Dec. 15, to help welcome visitors and deliver gifts to the animals. Come join Santa and the staff for some Holiday Magic at the Charles Paddock Zoo to enjoy the festivities.
Holiday Magic is a time to visit the Zoo and the events of the day are included with regular admission. Over 200 animals call the Charles Paddock Zoo home, including red pandas, monkeys, meerkats, parrots, a Malayan Tiger, a variety of reptiles and more.

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero is anticipating completion of the El Camino Real and San Anselmo road work for the 2018 F-14 Roadway Rehabilitation Projects this month. There are miscellaneous items remaining, but the majority of the roadway reconstruction work has been completed.

AVILA BEACH — Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Diablo Canyon Power Plant Unit 2 returned to service and is now operating at 100 percent power.
The unit had been shut down since Dec. 1, when a grid monitoring protective feature detected a lower than normal current on the transmission lines. Upon sensing the operation of the grid protective feature on Dec. 1, Unit 2 performed as designed and automatically went offline to protect equipment and plant operators responded and conducted an investigation and testing.

NORTH COUNTY — It’s the season of giving, and in some cases taking. After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, people took to online shopping this year especially with free shipping to complete their purchases. Porches and stoops are filling with boxes from major retailers, like Amazon, Target or Walmart, are becoming easy targets for thieves also known as “porch pirates,” who are following your carriers every move and picking up packages along the way.
According to a study done by InsuranceQuotes in 2017, 8 percent of Americans or about 25.9 million people have had a holiday package delivery stolen from a front porch or doorstep. This is up from 23.5 million uncovered in their 2015 survey.
Well, how do you stop them?
Here are some tips on how to deter these opportunistic thieves:
“Being diligent with knowing what your shipping times are, typically UPS delivers about the same time every day to certain residences. Check your packages delivery date make sure they are not sitting out there for an extended period of time, would be good starters,” said Commander Caleb Davis with the Paso Robles Police Department.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cuesta College Paramedic Program hosted an open house to introduce its upcoming class of paramedic students and unveil its brand new, state-of-the-art ambulance simulator. The mobile simulator is one of the first of its kind to be used in California and was funded through a grant by the Strong Workforce Program as a component of the state’s “Doing What Matters (for Jobs and the Economy)” initiative.
“With the national evolution of Emergency Medical Services education to a high-fidelity scenario-based model, Cuesta College is setting the pace in California with the first mobile ambulance simulator training module,” said Michael McDonough, Paramedic Program Director. “Performing patient assessments and skill delivery while in a safe, but moving, simulator will enhance our students’ experience in critical decision situations.”

ATASCADERO — Heather Moreno’s first connection with Dancing With Our Stars (DWOS) was as a Community Star in 2014 and she has been part of the program every year since then. Heather is an accomplished dancer and actress and her appearances in the vignettes between Community Star dances have included a wide range of roles and dance styles. She has a childhood background in jazz and tap lessons and dance continues to be an important part of her life as an adult. After her gratifying dance experience in 2014, she convinced Mike, her husband, to take dance lessons with her and she is pleased to say that they are now a dancing couple. She is excited to be returning as a Community Star this year, to raise money for the Friends of the Atascadero Library.

TEMPLETON — Twin Cities Community Hospital and Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center have partnered with the County of San Luis Obispo and the Sierra Mental Wellness Group to place employees, who are specially-trained on mental health, in emergency departments at both hospitals.
These employees provide an invaluable service by screening patients and providing support for those dealing with mental health issues.
“This partnership is providing an excellent service to our community,” said Anne Robin, Behavioral Health Director for the County of San Luis Obispo. “We are able to provide better care for patients by having these employees focus on the direct needs of mental health patients.”

COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries, in partnership with SLO MakerSpace, are now offering Mobile MakerKits. This is a program for adults made possible by an Innovation Station grant funded by California State Library and Southern California Library Cooperative.
“Patrons might be interested in virtual reality, embroidery, or robotics, but who’s going to run out and spend hundreds of dollars to test out the latest model? With a library card, emerging technology is free,” said Library Adult Services Coordinator Sharon Coronado. “We believe our communities are capable of amazing things, and the maker movement is the perfect conduit to make amazing things happen.”

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Hospice of San Luis Obispo County (Hospice SLO County) invites the public to honor the memories of loved ones during the 34th annual Light Up A Life remembrance ceremonies. The community is invited to help shine a light at any one of eight Hospice SLO County remembrance ceremonies throughout the county.
The holidays symbolize a time when friends and family gather in celebration. It can also be a difficult and emotional time for those grieving a loss. Light Up A Life is an annual event that offers the community an opportunity to come together to honor and remember loved ones who may no longer be here but will never be forgotten.

The Atascadero Community Band (ACB) recently donated the proceeds from their Fall Concert, a total of $677, to the Atascadero High School Jazz Program. The non-profit ACB makes several donations a year to support local non-profit organizations, especially those that develop music opportunities for young folks. The ACB holiday concert will be held on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at the Pavilion on the Lake in Atascadero. The proceeds from this concert will benefit The Wellness Kitchen. Admission, parking and refreshments are free, and donations are gratefully accepted and are tax deductible as permitted by the law.

ATASCADERO — Atascadero Kiwanis Club is inviting youngsters of all ages to have breakfast with Santa in December.
The club’s third annual Breakfast with Santa will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 8 to 11 a.m. Kiwanians will be cooking pancakes and sausages while the children get the opportunity to visit with Santa. Money earned goes to the non-profit Kiwanis Foundation. The local club is celebrating its 50th year of community service to Atascadero.

TEMPLETON — The community of Templeton came out in support of Templeton Fire and Emergency Services during #GivingTuesday, a global giving movement on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Local business Weyrick Lumber Company said they would provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to $1,500 for the Templeton Fire’s #GivingTuesday campaign.
Templeton Fire and Emergency Services is in need of money to help offset the costs associated with providing emergency services which cannot be captured by the general fund. Which is why they reached out to the public to help donate funds.

UPDATE — 11:50 p.m., Nov. 28 — MONTEREY COUNTY — Due to the storm, Caltrans will close Highway 1 at Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide today, Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 12 p.m. until further notice. Storm activity is forecast through Thursday, Nov. 29.
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road (PM 18.9) is the alternate route to reach Highway 1 between Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide. However, there is a 12-foot height restriction at one of the bridges along this route. Check with Fort Hunter-Liggett for more updated information on their road at www.facebook.com/FortHunterLiggett.

TEMPLETON — #GivingTuesday is a global giving movement built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and communities in countries around the world. Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.

COUNTY — On Tuesday, Nov. 6, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors established next year’s fiscal budget priorities, with a focus on meeting legal obligations, as well as short-term and long-term priorities.
The Board approved budget goals and policies, as well as budget balancing strategies and approaches.

CHICO — Locals Ken Tucker and Steve Claassen arrived in Chico at 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, Tuesday morning with a trailer full of supplies and $2,000 in gift cards ready to hand out to survivors of what’s become the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history.
While air quality on the Central Coast was affected and attention given more to the closer blaze impacting Malibu over the last week, national focus has shifted to the north as reports came in of the near total destruction of the small town of Paradise in Butte County.

Meet Tammy! Tammy is a beautiful Florida White mix rabbit. She is easy to handle and was well socialized during Woods Humane Society’s Critter Camp. Now Tammy is ready for a home of her own.
Rabbits make great pets — though they are delicate animals and may not be appropriate for families with young children. In fact, rabbits can be trained to use a litter box and will come when called. When their people care for their special needs, rabbits can live up to 10 happy, healthy years.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Joshua Logan Gordon Myers, 19, was found guilty on Nov. 15 by a San Luis Obispo County Superior Court jury for the charges of second-degree robbery, with a special allegation for using a firearm, and committing the crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office reported. He was also convicted of making criminal threats. All charges are felonies.

TEMPLETON —Local surgeon Dr. John Blaney from Twin Cities Community Hospital will be appearing on the holiday edition of “The Great American Baking Show!”
“He really has a knack for baking. Follow him on Instagram — docsconfections — that’s how the show found him! We can’t really say much — neither can Dr. Blaney — about how he did on the show, but we hope you will tune in to find out,” shared Krista Deans of Tenet Healthcare.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department has been awarded two grants for a total of $205,000 from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to continue programs aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on roadways. The grants will aid in the County’s ongoing effort to improve safety and quality of life.
“These funds will support our work to ensure that children, pedestrians, and cyclists are as safe as possible on our roads,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, San Luis Obispo County Health Officer. “The Office of Traffic Safety grants will provide coordination, collaboration, and education on the importance of child safety seats, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and the dangers of driving under the influence. The efforts will help achieve the County’s vision of a healthy and safe community.”

A solo exhibit, Artistic Journeys with Janice Pluma is a collection of acrylic and collage paintings at the Atascadero Regional Library, located at 6555 Capistrano. Join the artist for an opening reception on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 5-6 p.m. Exhibition continues through February 2019 during normal library hours. (Contributed photo)

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero will present its annual Light Up the Downtown Holiday Celebration on Friday, Nov. 30, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sunken Gardens, in Downtown Atascadero.
The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce’s Art and Wine Tour begins at 5:30 p.m. The “Fairweather Four” Barbershop Quartet will be strolling through the downtown and serenading shoppers and families to get everyone in the holiday spirit. At 6 p.m., gather in the Sunken Gardens area in front of Historic City Hall as City officials and the community counts down to the lighting, community children are invited to help flip the giant PG&E switch which turns on the lights to showcase the beautiful Rotunda Building.

COUNTY — When health care access team members answer the phone, they’re ready for questions that cover the range of human experience with health care, from the logistics to the potentially life-altering: Now that I have insurance, where can I find a doctor? Why is this medical bill so high? I’m worried about this lump — but what if treatment is too expensive?
“No matter what the question or issue is, I want people to know: you’re not alone,” said Laura, a nurse navigator who joined the team this year.

The Atascadero Horseman’s Club held their annual" Toy's for Tot's Ride " on Sunday Nov. 18. The club has sponsored this event for 45 years. They shared that the event would not be possible without the participation of club members and riders from the local equine community.

ATASCADERO — The Printery Foundation had its annual meeting on Nov. 18 at the Community Church in Atascadero. At the Fellowship Hall, there was a great turnout, including newly elected council member Susan Funk who kept her campaign promise of working on the Printery project. Phil Dunsmore with the City was present and had a lot of positive input for the Printery. New designs by Ravatt, Albrecht & Associates, Inc. were shown.

ATASCADERO — Routine traffic stop on Nov. 16 leads to seizure of drugs, cash, and a weapon, the Atascadero Police Department reported.
At approximately 5:05 p.m. on Nov. 16, an Atascadero police officer stopped a vehicle in the 3200 block of El Camino Real for a mechanical violation. After the driver provided false information about his name, a search of the vehicle yielded over one ounce of methamphetamine, a loaded firearm that was determined to have been stolen, a stolen laptop and over $8,000 in cash.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court jury Friday, Nov. 16, found Jim Pinedo guilty of seven felony counts, including violations of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, inflicting corporal injury to an intimate partner, threatening and dissuading a witness, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office reported.
The jury also found true allegations that Pinedo, 38, personally used and discharged a firearm, and personally inflicted great bodily injury during the commission of the offenses.

COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo is preparing for some employees to strike as early as December, but officials say that essential public safety and health services will continue.
The County’s largest employee union, San Luis Obispo County Employees’ Association (SLOCEA), notified the County on Nov. 16 that it plans to strike unless the County meets its demands.

ATASCADERO — Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. a nationwide charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. In 2016, the program awarded “Pit,” an active duty K9 from the Atascadero Police Department, a lifesaving protective vest. The Department is pleased to announce that “Pit” also been selected as one of the recipients of the 2018 “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” medical insurance program, which will provide health insurance coverage in the amount of $10,000 annually from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to bring family and friends together. Unfortunately, it is also the leading day of the year for home fires. Please help to reduce home fires and injuries by sharing and following these safety tips.

COUNTY — Two people reportedly took a credit card from a mailbox and then went on a shopping spree, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The Sheriff’s Office received a report on Oct. 16 of a stolen credit card from a mailbox at a residence in Arroyo Grande which had been used at businesses in the County at multiple locations including Atascadero, San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.

PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Police Department is currently investigating an armed bank robbery at Chase Bank, 194 Niblick Road in Paso Robles. The robbery occurred as the bank was closing at approximately 6:01 p.m. on Nov. 20. During the robbery, a bank employee sustained a moderate eye injury after one of the robbers struck him with a rifle. As of this time, it is unknown how much money was taken during the robbery per police officials.

NORTH COUNTY— Smoke from wildfires across the state continues to impact San Luis Obispo County air quality.
Better Breathers Alert for Atascadero and Paso Robles were issued by the county Air Pollution Control District (APCD) for Saturday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 18. Air quality is forecasted to be in the moderate range which is harmful to sensitive persons due to an increase in Particulate Matter (PM10) concentrations.

On Oct. 25, Quota sisters had an opportunity to show their Quota “giving hearts” by bringing non-perishable food items or an unwrapped gift item to the Seasons of Hope donation center at the Paso Robles Kia dealership on Theater Drive. Left to right are Kathy Hendrix, Sheila Klaesius, Brenda May, Deena Pangborn, Kathy Johnson, and Linda Roof. (Contributed photo

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Pamela Sue Langley, the recent most wanted, was arrested this past week in San Luis Obispo by Sheriff’s deputies as a result of someone phoning in a tip to Crimestoppers. Langley was wanted for violation of probation for stalking with a temporary restraining order, stalking to follow and harass with intent to place fear, vandalism with damage of more than $400, and vandalism with damage of less than $400.

ATASCADERO — The Santa Lucia Sportsmen’s Association (SLSA) will host its annual Turkey Shoot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18. Competitors will have the chance at winning a turkey, ham, bacon or cash.
Admission is free to the event which features competitive matches in trap, rifle, pistol and air gun. The targets are either sporting clays or metal silhouettes and no turkeys are harmed during the event. The matches allow one to test their skills against other competitors to win a prize. The winner can choose a prize of a turkey, a ham, bacon (as available) or cash. The entry fee for a match is $7. If you want to participate, but do not own a firearm, loaners will be available.

TEMPLETON — San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson held a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Templeton High School, one of the beta sites, to showcase the new RAVE Panic Button Smartphone App available to most schools in SLO County. This is the final piece of a three-prong plan.
Five minutes is the average length of time that an active shooter incident takes place, said Parkinson at the conference. This RAVE app is designed to immediately alert law enforcement of an active shooter incident on a school campus and shorten the response window. The SLO County Sheriff’s Office is the first agency in the state to offer this app countywide.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The San Luis Obispo Wine Country Association Tuesday announced its search for a new executive director heading into 2019.
The new executive director will provide high-profile leadership, vision, and hands-on implementation for the marketing, brand building, public profile, programs and events for SLO Wine. The overarching mission is to increase local, regional and global awareness of the San Luis Obispo Coast wine region, which is increasingly renowned for its impeccable cool-climate wines, welcoming hospitality, and coastal lifestyle.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Hospice of San Luis Obispo County will join The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) on Saturday, Nov. 17, to offer special programs for those who have lost someone to suicide.
Every year over 44,000 Americans die by suicide, leaving family members and friends to deal with the loss and learn how to move forward. San Luis Obispo is one of the hundreds of locations worldwide in which survivors of suicide loss will gather on this day to connect with and find support from one another. Events will be offered in both English and Spanish at two locations.

COUNTY — Smoke impacted San Luis Obispo County air quality earlier this week due to the wildfires burning across the state.
Better Breathers Alert for Atascadero and Paso Robles were issued by the county Air Pollution Control District (APCD) for Nov. 9 and 10. Air quality was forecasted to be in the moderate range which is harmful to sensitive persons due to an increase in Particulate Matter (PM10) concentrations. Very sensitive individuals such as infants, children, and adults with existing respiratory or heart conditions may experience adverse health effects. If you are experiencing health problems APCD advises the public to consult your doctor.

NORTH COUNTY — Since the Woolsey Fire, Hill Fire and Camp Fire broke out on Nov. 8, North County fire and law enforcement personnel deployed to assist in various fire operations throughout the state. Two fires in Ventura County — the Hill Fire and Woolsey Fire — have been growing.
As of Nov. 13, the Woolsey Fire is 96,314 acres with 35 percent containment and 435 structures destroyed. Two deaths and three firefighters injured. Evacuations and road closures remain in effect. The cause of the Woolsey fire is still under investigation.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A Lyft driver was charged with the sexual assault of a passenger on Nov. 13, the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s Office reported.
On Nov. 13, the DA’s Office announced it had filed felony charges against Jason Lamont Fenwick, 51, for the sexual assault of a passenger that is alleged to have occurred shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 4 in Nipomo. Fenwick was charged with four felonies and one misdemeanor. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 21 in Department 8 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.

COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo announced on Nov. 11 that the U.S. Department of Justice will be conducting an independent investigation to review the medical and mental health care of inmates in the jail.
County officials say that the investigation is a civil review that does not focus on any single event, but rather on the delivery of medical and mental health services.

COUNTY —The County of San Luis Obispo expects to receive over $5.5 million of grant funding under two new state programs that aim to assist persons who are at risk of or are currently experiencing homelessness: the California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) program and the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP). Between the two programs, funding can be used to support a variety of activities that will benefit homeless services and housing projects, with $727,000 allocated from the CESH program and $4.8 million allocated under HEAP.
To help identify the best uses for the one-time-only funds, the County is launching a public participation process this month that will inform planning efforts for the implementation of CESH and HEAP, as well as updates to several planning documents in the coming year.

ATASCADERO — Once again Atascadero United Methodist Church will host its annual Alternative Christmas Market on Sunday, Nov. 11 in Dexter Hall at 11 a.m. This Alternative Christmas Market is designed to purchase items for a friend or a relative that may have everything they ever wanted but you would still like to get them a gift during the holiday season.
At the Alternative Christmas Market you may purchase an animal or a share of an animal with the Heifer Project— for vegetarians, you have the opportunity to purchase tree seedlings and honey bees. There is also gift cards which you may give to the person you wish to honor saying that an animal has been purchased in their name.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — It's the season of caring and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Christmas Bike Program is currently seeking donations for the Christmas Bike Giveaway which will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the Sheriff’s Honor Farm.
This program was set up 29 years ago to promote the holiday spirit by giving away refurbished bicycles and new helmets to children in need in San Luis Obispo County. Due to the generosity of the people of this County, the program has continued to be a big success.

COUNTY — Local governments may soon receive one-time funding from the state to provide direct assistance to homeless individuals and those at risk of becoming homeless.
The County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors declared a homeless shelter crisis on Tuesday, Nov. 6, and authorized the County’s participation in the state’s Homeless Shelter Emergency Aid Program (HEAP), which could result in $4.8 million of one-time state grant funding to combat homelessness at the local level.

TEMPLETON — William Gamba was recently appointed as new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Twin Cities Community Hospital on Aug. 6 and was recently accused in the death of his wife, Blaise Gamba in a lawsuit filed on Oct. 30 by Nancy Huhta, the mother of Blaise Gamba.
Huhta is suing William Gamba in the wrongful death of Blaise Gamba. Blaise Gamba drowned off the coast of Florida in November of 2016.

NORTH COUNTY — A vehicle pursuit ended at Atascadero High School with the arrest of a woman Friday morning, Nov. 2.
San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Deputies responded at approximately 8:15 a.m. to a report of a woman sleeping in her vehicle that was parked off the side of O'Donovan Road in Creston.
When deputies tried to contact the woman, she refused to acknowledge them. The deputies checked the license and registration of the vehicle and discovered the woman, Nancy Lynn Clayburg, 43, had a suspended license plus a number of other equipment violations. When deputies attempted to contact Clayburg again, she drove off which initiated a low-speed pursuit with an average speed of approximately 40 mph, according to officials.

Currently, on the City Council, she’s not planning on holding a party of her own on election night, rather, she said, family will come in for a visit from Southern California and she’ll see what parties she gets invited to.
In the meantime, she’s been meeting with City Manager Rachel Rickard about the City’s strategic planning process, conducted at the start of a new Council, and feels confident in the group’s ability to move forward no matter what combination of candidates the voters pick to fill two vacancies.

NORTH COUNTY — A high-speed chase ended at Atascadero High School with the arrest of a woman Friday morning, Nov. 2.
Law enforcement was in pursuit of a vehicle when they notified Creston Elementary around 9 a.m. that they would be passing by the school and asked to have the school shelter in place until they had passed per school officials.
The pursuit continued into Atascadero where the suspect drove onto the campus of Atascadero High School and the pursuit was terminated and the suspect, a woman was placed into custody.

On Sunday, Oct. 21, an electrical fire started on the second floor of 1255 Las Tablas Road in Templeton; below which, the nonprofit organization — The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center — is located.
The Wellness Kitchen officials are thankful for the team of local firefighters, who fought the fire and the building remains. However, The Wellness Kitchen experienced significant smoke and water damage and needs the help of the community.

SANTA MARGARITA LAKE — The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) in cooperation with the Range Improvement Association and local landowners will be conducting a 138-acre prescribed burn on Wednesday, Oct. 31.
This burn is located along West Pozo Road approximately one mile southwest of Santa Margarita Lake. Four fire engines, one fire crew, and one bulldozer will be utilized to conduct the burn. The burn is being conducted as part of the Cal Fire’s Vegetation Management Program and is intended to reduce highly flammable vegetation and other wildland fuels in an area prone to wildfires. This burn is also intended to demonstrate the effectiveness of prescribed burning as a management tool for the control of yellow starthistle, an invasive weed harmful to cattle and horses. The project is in cooperation with the San Luis Obispo County Range Improvement Association and should improve forage conditions for livestock and wildlife.

COUNTY — On Oct. 2, the Institute for Local Governments presented the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors with a Gold Level Beacon Spotlight Award for Energy Savings for reducing its electricity use at public facilities by 15 percent since 2010.
SLO County was one of just three California counties to earn the award this year for voluntarily taking steps to conserve natural resources, promote energy innovation, and create healthier communities.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — This December will mark the 21st consecutive year that the San Luis Obispo community will generously provide homeless with a decadent home-cooked Christmas Day dinner along with live entertainment. More importantly, for the past two decades, this occasion has been used as a means of providing much-needed winter clothing care packages to the homeless community.
Help us to continue this tradition by donating to the winter clothing care package fund. All donations will be used for the purchase of care package items so that we can provide each homeless guest with a brand new: sleeping bag, hooded sweatshirt, winter jacket, socks, underwear and toiletries. These items make a tremendous difference in helping local homeless survive our cold, wet winters.

COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department and Department of Social Services remind residents that specialists are available to provide free, unbiased help finding health insurance and signing up through Covered California.
This year’s open enrollment period for Covered California started on Oct. 15 and continues through Jan. 15, 2019.
Covered California is the state health care marketplace for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Through Covered California, residents can enroll in health care coverage and may qualify for free or low-cost insurance based on their income. People who qualify for free or reduced-price coverage can only get this benefit during the open enrollment period (through Jan. 15), with very few exceptions. For this reason, officials recommend applying for full health care coverage during the open enrollment period—to obtain the peace of mind and improved health that can come as a result of having health coverage.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Special Olympics International recently announced that San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson and retired San Luis Obispo Police Lt. Bill Proll were selected to serve as part of the Final Leg team, serving as Guardians of the Flame as they run the “Flame of Hope” throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March, leading up to the start of the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Final Leg runners from around the world were selected to represent their local Torch Run and Special Olympics Programs.

NORTH COUNTY — On Thursday evening, Oct. 18, over 100 Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, their families, friends, Scouting Leaders, and local dignitaries gathered at Atascadero Elks Lodge No. 2733 for the Elks’ Scouting Recognition Dinner. The Elks’ annual event honors Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from the North County who have achieved their programs’ highest honors — Eagle Scout for the Boy Scouts, and the Gold Award and the Silver Award for Girl Scouts. The dinner and program are co-hosted by Atascadero Elks Lodge No. 2733 and Paso Robles Elks Lodge No. 2364 and alternate between each lodge each year.

SAN MIGUEL — A project to improve six miles of US Highway 101 from San Miguel to Camp Roberts will continue with a closure of the southbound US Highway 101 on-ramp at South Mission Street beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24 for the next six weeks, according to Caltrans. Motorists will be able to detour to the southbound US Highway 101 on-ramp at the South Camp Roberts Undercrossing.
In addition, the southbound US Highway 101 on-ramp at Cemetery Road will re-open at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24. Motorists will detour via 10th Street to reach this on-ramp.

Atascadero United Methodist Church will host its annual community Halloween carnival on Halloween, Wednesday, Oct 31 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the church, 11605 El Camino Real. This is a safe place for trick or treating. There will be trunk or treating, snacks, food, games, music, arts and crafts, puppet show and costume contest. This is free and open to the public. It is particularly geared toward families with children in the fifth grade and younger.
For more information, go to AtascaderoUMC.org or call 805-466-2566.

ATASCADERO — The Masons of King David’s Masonic Lodge No. 209 in San Luis Obispo recently donated $1,000 to the Atascadero Fine Arts Academy. The presentation was part of the fall 2018 philanthropy program of the lodge, which totaled $15,000. Located in Atascadero, AFAA is the only public school in the county that delivers arts-based curriculum to fourth through eighth grade students.
The funds will be used to support AFAA students as they wrap up their annual Art-A-Thon fundraiser. The donation was presented by Christian Marano, a Past Master of the lodge. The Masons of King David’s Lodge also donated $1,000 to AFAA during the spring philanthropy program earlier this year to support sixth grade students attending outdoor science camp.

Kathy Johnson, “Volunteer of The Year” long-time Quota International of Atascadero member, recently received this prestigious award from Quota International at the Quota Convention held in Washington D.C. Her fellow Quota members would like to give ‘a big congratulations to our wonderful Kathy Johnson.’ The Atascadero Quota Club is celebrating its 44th year in Atascadero.

ATASCADERO — There is going to be Halloween fun for all ages at the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero. The Zoo is preparing for another spooktackular evening on Saturday, Oct. 27. The gates will open at 5 p.m. and the festivities will continue until 8:30 p.m. Be sure to get your best kid-friendly Halloween costume ready and then bring the entire family out to a not-too-scary evening at Zoo Boo. You can expect to find spooky decorations throughout the Zoo, along with carnival games, Halloween activities, a Haunted House, plus tricks and treats to enjoy.

NORTH COUNTY — Kaitlin Adams, an active member of Ambassador Troop 40146, completed her Gold Award project.
Adams, who lives in Atascadero and attended Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo, partnered with Twin Cities Community Hospital to transform an underutilized patio into an Asian inspired outdoor retreat.
The patio is located adjacent to the Birth and Baby Center and will be enjoyed by laboring mothers and their families. There is also a place for the hospital staff to use while on break. The Tranquility Garden was unveiled on Saturday, Oct. 6, in conjunction with the Birth and Family Fair event at the hospital.

TEMPLETON — Twin Cities Community Hospital is having a Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. This is a free way to safely dispose of unused and unwanted medications and prescriptions. Twin Cities Community Hospital is located at 1100 Las Tablas Rd. in Templeton.
Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center will also have a take back day on the same day and time. Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center is located on 1010 Murray Ave. in San Luis Obispo and South County SAFE, 1086 Grande Ave. in Arroyo Grande is also a drop-off location if people are unable to attend the Drug Take Back Day.

ATASCADERO — Two trucks were stolen from a used car lot in Atascadero on Saturday, Oct. 20, the Atascadero Police Department reported.
Three men and a woman walked into the used car lot of Guarantee Auto Group in Atascadero on Saturday, Oct. 20. According to the reporting party, he believed the woman entered the sales office after asking to use the bathroom and was able to acquire unsecured keys for vehicles on the lot. All of the suspects left the lot in a silver late-model Honda Civic Coupe, with an unknown plate. When the business closed at 5 p.m., two of the men returned to the lot and drove away with two pickup trucks.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport terminal project was named the Best Airport/Transit Project in Southern California and Hawaii by Engineering News-Record. The County’s airport was recognized on Oct. 11 in Los Angeles.
Three panels of judges took weeks to determine the list of winners, reviewing more than 100 projects throughout California and Hawaii and ranking them on their contribution to the industry and community, safety and construction and design quality, and the ability of the project team to overcome challenges.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department, City of Atascadero and Five Cities Fire Authority are partnering to present a free flu shot event on Sunday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon at Colony Park Community Center, 5599 Traffic Way in Atascadero. Everyone age 3 years old and older is welcome to come get a free flu shot. No appointment is needed, and there are no requirements based on income or residency.

COUNTY — County Taxpayers can use Easy Smart Pay to make monthly payments for annual property taxes.
Jim Erb, County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, announced on Tuesday, Oct. 16 the availability of Easy Smart Pay for county taxpayers who wish to make monthly payments toward their annual property tax bill, instead of paying in one or two installments per year. This program is designed for those who are not already paying through their lender or mortgage company.
“California law doesn’t allow the County to accept monthly payments directly. That’s why we were happy to see Easy Smart Pay create a program that accepts monthly payments from taxpayers and then pays the County when the biannual payments are due,” said Erb.

SAN LUIS OBISPO ─ Doug Lipp, retired head of training for Disney University, will join Beacon Economics analysts Chris Thornberg and Robert Kleinhenz on the speaker dais at the 2018 Central Coast Economic Forecast.
The annual event will be held Friday, Nov. 2 at the Alex Madonna Expo Center, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Lipp is a distinguished international consultant, eight-time author, and former head of training at the legendary Disney University. Drawing on his 30 plus years of combined experience at Disney and in private practice, Lipp inspires and challenges hundreds of organizations worldwide. At the Forecast, he will discuss company culture, teamwork and inspiring creative thinking.

STATE — The Great California ShakeOut is an annual opportunity to prepare and practice for an earthquake: "Drop, Cover and Hold On."
California is at higher risk of earthquakes compared to the rest of the country. The Great California ShakeOut has been organized to encourage everyone to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure space in order to prevent damage and injuries.
ShakeOut is also a reminder for Californians to be prepared financially, such as by exploring earthquake insurance. The not-for-profit California Earthquake Authority offers earthquake insurance throughout California for homeowners, renters, mobile home owners and condo-unit owners.
Register to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, access resources, receive email updates, and more at www.shakeout.org/california/.
On Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m. Drop, Cover, and Hold On:
Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds).

TEMPLETON — The Templeton CHP Office is asking for the public’s help in investigating the felony hit-and-run traffic collision that took the life of Nathaniel Weatherly last week.
At approximately 5 a.m. on Oct. 11, Weatherly, 22, was attempting to walk or run across the Highway 101 when he was struck by an unknown vehicle that was driving southbound on the freeway. Weatherly’s last known residence was San Miguel, but he was believed to be homeless.
CHP has released a vehicle description. They are looking for a gold-colored Toyota Sienna minivan, with collision damage to the front of it. The year model is possibly between 2004 and 2007.

PASO ROBLES — The Paso Basin Cooperative Committee invites groundwater users and interested community members to attend their upcoming meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at the City of Paso Robles Council Chambers, 1000 Spring St., Paso Robles.
The Cooperative Committee is comprised of representatives from the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies formed over the Paso Basin within San Luis Obispo County and is charged with developing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan in accordance with the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The upcoming meeting will focus on drafts of Chapter 4 “Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model” and Chapter 5 “Groundwater Conditions”, as well as initial discussion of potential projects and actions related to achieving groundwater sustainability.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The County will hold an Agricultural Worker Housing Workshop for the public to discuss agricultural worker housing regulations and possible upcoming changes with the ordinance from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at the San Luis Obispo Library at 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo.

ATASCADERO — Atascadero and Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services took part in Fire Prevention Week — Oct. 7-13. The Atascadero and Paso Robles fire departments works in coordination with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the official sponsor of the Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, to reinforce these potentially life-saving messages.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be Aware. Fire can happen anywhere!” A theme that will better educate the public about the three basic but essential steps to take to reduce the likelihood of having a fire and how to escape safely in the event that one happens.

The Atascadero Explorer Post won third overall and a first in five events at the Central Coast Law Enforcement Explorer Competition held on Oct. 7. Alex Newsom came in first place for a scholarship award and won a Mac Book laptop at the event. (Contributed photos)

CRESTON — The 9th-Ever Creston Cowboy Christmas Dinner Party, complete with dinner, wine and music a dessert auction and raffles, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 15 at Creston Community Center, 5110 Swayze Road in Creston. The annual event is a fundraiser for the Creston Area Town Center Helping-hands (CATCH) Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transitioning the old Creston Firehouse into Creston’s first community center.
The nonprofit fund has worked with a variety of local community organizations, including the Creston Women’s Club, Creston Men’s Club, and Creston Garden Club to raise money for the project while providing community events and service.

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero began a major portion of the pavement rehabilitation project for El Camino Real and San Anselmo Road on Tuesday, Oct. 9. It is expected to last through Oct. 16
On Tuesday, Oct. 9, the contractor for the City began Cold In Place Recycling (CIPR) operations on El Camino Real and San Anselmo Road. CIPR work was anticipated to begin on El Camino Real between San Anselmo Road (East) and San Benito Road and go through Thursday, Oct. 11. During this time, two lanes of traffic will remain open, although there may be times when traffic is restricted to single lane with flagging control.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A Sacramento man was arrested for human trafficking Friday, Oct. 5, in San Luis Obipso, the San Luis Obispo Police Department reported.
At approximately 1:40 a.m. on Oct. 5, a San Luis Obispo police officer conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations in the 3000 block of Broad. The vehicle was being driven by 35-year-old Lucion Banks out of Sacramento. Also in the vehicle was a 14-year old female passenger out of Oakland.
During the car stop the officer discovered Banks had a suspended California driver’s license as well as a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest. Both Banks and his passenger denied being related and had no clear story of why they were in San Luis Obispo. Banks was subsequently arrested for the warrant and driving on a suspended license.

PASO ROBLES — A man was hit Thursday morning by a vehicle as he tried to cross Highway 101 near the 13th Street bridge in Paso Robles, the California Highway Patrol reported. The vehicle did not stop and has not notified law enforcement.
The man later identified as Nathaniel J. Weatherly, 22, died at the scene. Weatherly’s last known residence was San Miguel, but was believed to be homeless.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against the former San Miguel Community Services District bookkeeper Kallie Leighanne Johnson, 29, for embezzling $38,000 in public funds belonging to the District in 2015.
On Friday, Oct. 5, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Unit filed felony embezzlement charges against Johnson.
Johnson was working as the bookkeeper for the San Miguel Community Services District during the period she is charged with embezzlement. The Community Services District provides services for residents of San Miguel including fire protection, water, wastewater, lighting, and solid waste collection.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE — Team Vandenberg had a successful launch of the SAOCOM 1A satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4E on Sunday, Oct. 7, at 7:21 p.m. and the first land landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The launch was postponed on Saturday to Sunday to provide the ideal launch conditions as well as the atmospheric one’s for the public to view it clearly.

ATASCADERO — A man suspected of having robbed a Chevron gas station was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 25, the Atascadero Police Department reported.
During the investigation of the reported armed robbery of the gas station in the 8900 block of Montecito Avenue in Atascadero on Sept. 20, officers learned more about their suspect by collaborating with other law enforcement agencies.

SHANDON — The San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office arrested a wanted parolee Friday evening, Sept. 21 in Shandon.
The search for parolee Larry Charles Harvey, 20, from Shandon, began Friday morning and concluded later in the day after deputies received a report at approximately 5:15 p.m. that he was spotted outside a residence in the 100 block of South 7th Street in Shandon.
When deputies arrived on the scene, Harvey ran away. He led deputies on a foot chase through the nearby riverbed, into backyards, and through a home before being caught near the intersection of Calle Carmelita and E. Centre Street in Shandon. Harvey was arrested without incident.

ATASCADERO — Police were dispatched Thursday evening, Sept. 20, to a reported robbery at a Chevron gas station in the 8900 block of Montecito Avenue, the Atascadero Police Department reported.
When officers arrived after 8:25 p.m. at the gas station they learned the suspect had entered the business, brandished a butcher knife, demanded cash, which he claimed he needed to buy fuel for his vehicle. The suspect also took a three-pack of Budweiser beer and fled in a vehicle. Officers established a perimeter at the scene.
Officers brought in Atascadero Police Department canine, units from the San Luis Office Sheriff’s Office and San Luis Obispo Probation Department to conduct a search for the suspect.

SHANDON — Deputies are searching the Shandon area Friday morning, Sept. 21, for a parolee believed to be armed and dangerous, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Shandon Elementary and Shandon High School were both sheltering in place while deputies continued to search for parolee Larry Harvey, 27, of Shandon.
Friday morning deputies were dispatched to a disturbance in the north end of Shandon at approximately 8:04 a.m.

SHANDON — San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Deputies responded Thursday, Sept. 20, to a series of crimes in the Shandon area, which included the theft of three vehicles and burglary of a residence, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The first incident occurred at approximately 2:20 p.m. on the 100 block of South 7th Street in Shandon and involved a report of a stolen truck — which later crashed in the 2500 block of San Juan Road.
The suspect or suspects then stole a nearby ranch utility vehicle and drove it to the 300 block of Truesdale Road in Shandon. At that time, the home was burglarized.

Ryan Fields is starting the transition out of his head role at Beachwood Blendery, although he intends to keep ties to the Southern California brand as he prepares to open Wild Fields Brewhouse at 6907 El Camino Real in Atascadero.
That’s the same building which the Chamber of Commerce recently moved into, sharing a parking lot with the Galaxy Theatre and pedestrian access from the footbridge across the creek.

Several of the sworn police officers employed by the City of Atascadero have tattoos, but the public has no idea which, unless one knows them personally and off duty.
That’s due to a department policy in place for nearly 15 years which mandated a more conservative appearance for personnel on duty, a policy which Atascadero Police Department Chief Jarel Haley is loosening in the name of openness and keeping pace with modern culture.
The temporary modification to their uniform code was implemented on a trial basis, Sept. 1 and continues through Nov. 1, in order, the Chief said in an announcement, to judge public reaction and solicit feedback.

COUNTY — After being unable to reach a verdict on a charge of murder on Sept. 5, a jury convicted Gino Lopez, 23, of felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the 2016 traffic collision that killed 16-year-old Grizzly Academy graduate Emily Monique Reyes on the Cuesta grade.
A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Jury found Lopez, guilty of the following felonies on the fourth day of deliberations: gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with an enhancement for fleeing the scene of the crime; driving under the influence of alcohol with an enhancement for causing great bodily injury to more than one victim; and leaving the scene of an accident. Lopez was the intoxicated driver of a vehicle carrying passenger Reyes, who died of her injuries sustained in a collision on the Cuesta grade on April 15, 2016.

In the planning for over 20 years and using drafts last approved in 2014, work began last year on connecting roads for the Oak Ridge Estates, a development of expensive — what else — estates, on modified lots first laid out at the City’s founding but undeveloped until infrastructure is complete.

ATASCADERO — Waste Management’s curbside residential trash and recycling and commercial pick-up schedule in the City of Atascadero will be delayed by one day throughout the week of Sept. 3, due to the Labor Day holiday on Sept. 3.
In addition, all Waste Management operations will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3, with normal operations resuming on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Public Works will begin construction to rehabilitate the pavement on Main Street in Templeton starting in September.
The work will include removing and replacing failed pavement, placing a new paved surface, and reconstructing various roadside facilities including; curb ramps, traffic bulb-outs, and drainage facilities.

ATASCADERO — A woman was taken to an area hospital Wednesday, Aug. 29, after jumping from an overpass on Curbaril Avenue onto the Highway 101 freeway in Atascadero, according to City officials.
The woman reportedly stopped her vehicle in the middle of the road at approximately 10:30 a.m. and jumped off the overpass onto the highway.
According to the Atascadero Police Department, the woman did survive the fall and was transported to the hospital.

ATASCADERO — Atascadero police officers arrested two people involved in a car theft on Sunday evening and found stolen property and narcotics when they searched the vehicle.
Police surrounded the white sedan in the 2100 block of El Camino Real in Atascadero. They arrested Ryan Joseph Stewart, 41, on suspicion of felony auto theft, possession of a narcotic substance and for possession of paraphernalia. As well as on suspicion of receiving known stolen property and for violating parole. His accomplice, Marina Jean Lindemans, 24 was arrested on suspicion of felony auto theft, possession of a narcotic substance and for possession of paraphernalia.

COUNTY — If you receive CalFresh Benefits you can use your EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmer’s markets, the Market Match Program will give you $ 1 for each EBT $1 that you spend up to $10.
The Market Match Program is expanding to Arroyo Grande Wednesday and San Luis Obispo’s Thursday night Farmers’ Markets.

COUNTY — The California Legislature passed a bill on Monday, Aug. 20 that will ease the impacts from the pending closure of Diablo Canyon Power Plant, the last functioning nuclear power plant in California.
The bill, Senate Bill (SB) 1090, is now on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk for approval. The bipartisan legislation was introduced in March by Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) to mitigate the impacts of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant closure.

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Early Warning System (EWS) sirens will sound on Saturday, Aug. 25 for their annual full-scale test.
The Early Warning System sirens extend throughout the Emergency Planning Zone that extends in a circular area from Diablo Canyon. Originally the siren system was installed for an emergency at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, but they can be utilized for any disaster where actions, such as evacuations are needed to be taken by the public due to a tsunami or dam failure.

COUNTY — San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office detectives found new information leading to the naming of a person of interest in a North County cold case from 2009.
Jerry Greer, 71, was found dead in March 28, 2009 in his home on the 2000 block of Santa Rita Road in Templeton, the Sheriff’s Office reported. Greer’s body was discovered inside the home by family members. His death was deemed a homicide.

ATASCADERO — Ron Tarica’s series of music appreciation classes continue with a 12-week course covering Romantic Period composers dating from 1825 to 1900. It will be on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. from Aug. 22 to Nov. 14, with no class on Oct. 3, at the Colony Park Community Center, 5599 Traffic Way.
Composers presented include Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and other favorites.
This period covers some of the most beautiful music ever written, according to Tarica. In each session, usually covering only one composer, Tarica will introduce background about the composers, sometimes with humorous anecdotes, and play excerpts of their music.

ATASCADERO — Local medical clinic All For Health donated 19 new backpacks, filled by patients and staff with over $300 of school supplies. All For Health took the backpacks and supplies to ECHO on Tuesday, Aug. 14 at noon to be distributed to the school-age children currently living at the shelter.
School began at the Atascadero Unified School District on Wednesday, Aug. 15. Hopefully, these backpacks will help ECHO’s young clients achieve academic success.

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee had their Annual Scholarship Luncheon/Meeting at the Portola Inn, catered by Chef Charlie on Friday, Aug. 10.
The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee presented scholarships to three deserving women:
Julia Clickard is studying Ecology, Behavioral Ecology and Planetary Science at the University of California, Santa Cruz
Christina Rogers is studying Musical Theatre, Shakespeare, Theatre History, Ballet, Sing Tech, Acting and Movement at PCPA, Allan Hancock Community College

COUNTY — In an effort to make roads safer, the San Luis Obispo Police Department is deploying extra traffic enforcement officers on Aug. 17 and Aug. 24 to stop distracted driving. San Luis Obispo Police Department is spreading the message that distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves but everyone else on the road.
Using an electronic device while driving is a serious safety problem, SLOPD reported. Most drivers know that texting while driving is a dangerous behavior, but many still use their cell phones and other mobile devices when they are behind the wheel, putting themselves and others at risk. Many drivers see distracted driving as risky when other drivers do it but do not recognize how their own driving deteriorates.
In 2013, there were 3,154 people killed and an estimated 424,000 injured nationwide in crashes involving a distracted driver. That same year, 10 percent of fatal crashes were reported as distraction-affected crashes.

ATASCADERO — Two separate incidents occurred this week with two suspects who were taken into custody early this week by Atascadero police after resisting arrest.
The first incident occurred with Kejuan Guy Bynum, 25, was contacted early in the afternoon on Aug. 13 by Atascadero police. Bynum then fled on foot from the officers.
“A perimeter was established and he was taken into custody for an outstanding felony warrant.” Sgt. Jason Carr with the Atascadero Police Department said.

NORTH COUNTY — Several small vegetation fires erupted in the North County this week. Thanks to the quick response by firefighters and volunteers the fires were put out quickly and structures were saved.
Ysabel Fire
The Ysabel fire started on Aug. 9 at the 1000 block of Santa Ysabel Avenue, and South River Road in Paso Robles. Around 3:50 p.m. Cal Fire San Luis Obispo and the Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services responded to the vegetation fire.
Winds drove the fire and structures nearby were threatened. An air attack and an engine fought the two-acre grass fire that was wind driven and surrounded by roads threatening nearby structures.
By 4:04 p.m.fire personnel made good progress and additional resources were canceled. Structure threat was mitigated and shortly after aircraft was released.
The fire was fully contained by 4:35 p.m.

ATASCADERO — A slow-moving car chase early Monday morning, Aug. 13, ended with four arrests, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office reported.
SLO sheriff’s deputies were in pursuit of a vehicle going 45 mph northbound on Highway 101 when they called California Highway Patrol at 12:39 a.m. to assist.
The CHP unit was coming over from Camp Roberts when the vehicle yielded and went on the off-ramp at San Ramon Drive near Home Depot in Atascadero. CHP was called off at 1:07 a.m. and the deputies found four men in the vehicle.

ATASCADERO — As millions prepare to head back to school, Waste Management of Southern California is offering parents, students and educators practical tips to make this school year more sustainable by reducing, reusing and recycling right, in and out of the classroom.
“Back to school season is the perfect time to incorporate eco-friendly practices into our daily routine that can have a lasting positive impact on the environment,” said Eloisa Orozco, spokesperson for Waste Management of Southern California. “By committing to reduce, reuse and recycle right, we can all do our part to make this school year the greenest ever.”

COUNTY — Cuesta College is meeting the high-demand needs of the local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology industry with the launch of new GIS courses and certification. GIS is a computer system for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface. By relating seemingly unrelated data, GIS can help individuals and organizations better understand spatial patterns and relationships.
Beginning in the Fall of 2018, Cuesta College students will have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary for jobs in the GIS industry and fulfill degree requirements for various majors like engineering, architecture, health, agriculture, and computer information systems. GIS technology can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, and development planning, and in various career fields, including emergency response, marketing, engineering, biology, science, and more.

NORTH COUNTY — The San Luis Obipso Sheriff’s Office along with United Way of San Luis Obipso County is once again hosting Stuff the Bus from Aug. 9 to 12.
There will be three locations for the North County. One in Atascadero at Kmart, 3980 El Camino Real, one in Templeton at the Sheriff’s North Substation, 356 North Main Street and in Paso Robles at Walmart, 180 Niblick Drive.

LAKE NACIMIENTO — Firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle fire near Nacimiento Dam on Friday afternoon, Aug. 3. The vehicle fire threatened nearby vegetation on Nacimiento Lake Drive near Interlake Road per Cal Fire officials.
When Cal Fire firefighters arrived on scene at approximately 1:50 p.m. they found 3 acres of vegetation burning at a slow rate of speed. An air attack was called in to help fight the fire. Within moments ground crews and aircraft made good progress with fire holding at approximately 2-3 acres.

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Police Department is offering a gun injury prevention program for children 3 to 6 years of age and their parents. The course will be held on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Atascadero Police Department, 5505 El Camino Real.
The course will cover four easy-to-learn steps in gun injury prevention using the National Rifle Association’s “Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program.” This program is a gun accident prevention program that assists parents, law enforcement, community groups and educators. The four main steps to be reviewed will be to “Stop, Don’t Touch, Run Away, and Tell a Grown-up.” More information on the program, can be found online at eddieeagle.nra.org/.

Chad Eric Hendricks, 62, is wanted for violation of probation for unlawful possession of ammunition.
Hendricks is White, 6-foot-0-inches tall, 195 pounds and his last known residence is in Santa Margarita.
If you have information on his whereabouts contact the Sheriff’s Office at 805-781-4550. Anonymous tips can be provided by calling CrimeStoppers at 805-549-STOP.

ILLINOIS — News Media Corporation has hired Nickolas Monico to serve as its new company president, and promoted Trena Thompson as chief financial officer.
Monico, who has a long history of multimedia leadership experience, began in his new position on Monday, Aug. 6 at NMC’s headquarters in Rochelle, Ill.
“I’ve known Nick for many years and I am very pleased to have him join NMC,” said John Tompkins, founder and chairman of News Media Corporation.

SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is taking a number of additional actions to combat rising wait times at field offices. Customers have experienced longer-than-expected service times because of increased demand in the federal compliant REAL ID driver license or identification card.
“The DMV is bringing employees from various state agencies and departments to strengthen our hiring surge and help triage the longer lines at our offices,” DMV Director Jean Shiomoto said. “This year we have already hired 500 new employees, added Saturday service at 60 offices and opened offices an hour earlier in the most impacted areas. We expect the additional surge of employees will help further combat these wait times.”

COUNTY — The Sheriff’s Office announce the release of their new mobile phone app. This free app is available to the public to download to their smart phones.
It contains many of the features you can find on the Sheriff’s website like inmate information, press releases, and all the different programs and how to get involved.
It has new features like the Most Wanted Wednesday where every Wednesday a person who is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office is featured with a list of their crimes. The app also features push notifications and alerts. You will be able to receive updates on breaking news notifications like wildland fire evacuations or severe weather alerts directly to your phone.

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero will be conducting an informal Open House for the El Camino Real Downtown Traffic Calming Study and Corridor Plan, from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at Atascadero City Hall, located at 6500 Palma Avenue. The public is welcome to attend in order to view draft conceptual plans and exhibits of the alternatives being considered for El Camino Real, from Highway 41 to Rosario Avenue. Members of the public who plan to attend the Open House should enter City Hall from the Lewis Avenue entrance.

NORTH COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office is looking for two men who are suspected of breaking into vending machines at two different locations in Northern San Luis Obispo County.
On July, 27, at approximately 4:45 a.m., the two men drilled out the locking mechanism on a water vending machine at the Chevron gas station located at 701 Las Tablas Road in Templeton and stole the cash inside. On the same date at approximately 6 a.m., the same suspects drilled out the locking mechanism of the Coca-Cola vending machine located at the Los Robles Mobile Home Park, at 3165 Theatre Drive in Paso Robles and stole the cash from that vending machine as well.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Trevor Keith, a longtime senior manager for the County of San Luis Obispo, earned the confidence of all five board members to lead the Planning and Building Department.
On Tuesday, Aug. 7, the SLO Board of Supervisors approved the employment agreement with Keith as the Director of the Planning and Building Department. Keith began the job on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
After a nationwide search and an extensive selection process, the County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors unanimously, 5-0, selected Keith.

SHANDON — The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Public Works will begin construction of drainage improvements to the southwest corner of First Street and East Centre Street at Shandon High School.
Work started Monday, Aug. 6 and expected to continue through Aug. 17. The work includes installing a concrete drainage box, excavating, backfilling, new asphalt concrete paving, and walkway improvements to the high school. The limits of work will be confined to the southwest corner of the intersection. There will be traffic control at the site resulting in slight delays. Work is anticipated to be complete before the start of school.

ATASCADERO – The Atascadero Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Aug. 10, at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Atascadero Police Department supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Air Pollution Control District and County Health Department said that air quality in San Luis Obispo County is being impacted by smoke from wildfires. As of 2 p.m. Monday, July 30, smoke impacts were the greatest in Eastern and Central San Luis Obispo County (including Paso Robles and Atascadero) and air quality is mostly good along the coast (including San Luis Obispo), but coastal air quality could deteriorate as the smoke plume spreads. Expect skies to be hazy and fine particulate (PM2.5) and ozone concentrations to be higher than normal. Changing winds make it difficult to predict which areas of the county may be most affected as the week progresses. However, until the fires are put out, smoke will likely be intermittently present in the region.

AVILA BEACH — During the months of August and September, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will offer Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) lands tours to increase public knowledge of the 12,000 acres that surround DCPP. The Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel will also offer four public workshops to gather public input on the potential future uses of Diablo Canyon lands and facilities.

PASO ROBLES — As residents prepare for a visit to the fair, the County Public Health Department reminds everyone to take common-sense precautions to stay healthy and safe.
Health officials say the most important advice is also the most simple: wash your hands.
For handwashing, soap and water is best. If soap and water aren’t available, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good option. Handwashing stations are available throughout the fair.

LAKE NACIMIENTO — For one more weekend, mussel sniffing canines are helping public officials at Lake Nacimiento inspect vessels for invasive aquatic species — otherwise known as quagga and zebra mussels. “Mussel dogs,” as they are called, sniff around boats, alerting handlers of the presence of mussels and dramatically decreasing the time it takes to inspect boats.

PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles Police Department officials reported a multi-casualty vehicle accident on Thursday, July 19 in Paso Robles. Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services responded to the report of the traffic collision that needed extrication at approximately 12:17 p.m.
Arriving firefighters found a single vehicle off the road and up an embankment of a home in a residential neighborhood. Dispatch was upgraded due to the number of patients found in the vehicle. A total of six people were found injured, which lead to the declaration of a Multi-Casualty Incident (MCI). Additional ambulances were called to transport patients. A total of three were transported to local hospitals.

TEMPLETON — The bridge on Jack Creek Road is routinely inspected by Caltrans to look at the major structural elements as well as other bridge features. The County is working with Caltrans to make recommended repairs. Traffic will be restricted to one lane until repairs have been completed.
The bridge is located on Jack Creek Road, approximately 0.1 miles north of the intersection with Highway 46, northwest of the community of Templeton.

COUNTY — On State Route 46 at David Road before the Cholame Y, a fatal accident occurred Wednesday, July 25, morning involving a military tactical vehicle and a car, as reported by California Highway Patrol.
The driver, Cecil Gabriel Johnson, a 49 year-old Army Reserve sergeant from San Bernardino was driving a large 2007 M1078 Tactical Vehicle in a military convoy eastbound on State Route 46 at Davis Road, going approximately 50 mph when the driver, of a 2000 Acura 3.2TL, Chan Kee Chung, a 58-year-old male from Rowland Heights, was driving westbound at 55 mph when the tactical vehicle’s left front tire went flat and suddenly failed, sending the vehicle across the double yellow center lines into the westbound lane of traffic.

SAN MIGUEL — UK based couple, Bex Band and Gil Drori, will be bravely attempting a 1,500- plus mile journey travelling the full length of the USA using kick scooters — stand up non-motorised scooters that are powered by leg muscles alone. The expedition, named ‘Kicking the States’ began on May 17 in Vancouver, Canada and will end three months later in Tijuana, Mexico. This route has never been attempted on kick scooters before so it will be a world first! The couple was in San Miguel on Wednesday, July 18 and planned to scoot past Paso Robles, Templeton and Atascadero on July 19 with their local destination to stop in Los Osos.
The couple are completely self-contained, carrying all their own gear in modified panniers that they adapted especially for the kick-scooters.

Waste Management’s curbside residential trash and recycling and commercial pick-up schedule in the City of Atascadero will be delayed by one day beginning on Wednesday, July 4, and throughout the week in observance of Independence Day.

CALIFORNIA — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is having Free Fishing Days on July 7 and Sept. 1.
CDFW annually offers two Free Fishing Days, typically around the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends. On these two designated days, people can fish without having to buy a sport fishing license. Free Fishing Days also provide an easy opportunity for licensed anglers to introduce non-angling friends and children to fishing and the outdoors.

ATASCADERO — An Atascadero apartment building caught fire June 23 at approximately 3:43 p.m. after a barbeque caught a nearby wooden fence on fire and the fire spread to the building. Now 19 residents of the complex are without a home.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Every mayor in San Luis Obispo County and the Chair of the Board of Supervisors came together on Thursday, June 21, and promised each other, and the people and institutions they serve, to always strive to conduct debates — whether in person, online, or in written communication — in ways that allow for the widest range of opinions on ideas and policies, yet also respect the dignity, integrity and rights of those with whom they might disagree.

ATASCADERO — Fr. Matthew Conrad of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atascadero is trading in his clerical collar and sandals for an Aloha shirt and flip-flops on June 30, 2018 after faithfully serving the community of Atascadero and the surrounding areas for more than 34 years.

Becoming a new father can feel a little overwhelming. There’s the lack of sleep, the added responsibilities, the loss of free time, and trying to balance it all. Fatherhood is one of the most wonderful experiences in life, and one of the most important for your child’s early development.
First 5 California has some suggestions on things you can do to make sure your child gets the best possible start in life.

PASO ROBLES — Dane Senser and his family recently attended the Yanni Acropolis Anniversary concert at Vina Robles Amphitheatre for a reason one could never imagine.
Senser and his family also attended a Yanni concert 25 years ago as a tribute to his brother, Karl, who should have been there with them, but was brutally murdered in a San Diego carjacking.
Karl Senser, who worked as a clipper for the local newspapers and as a ballroom dancing instructor, was planning on going to the Yanni concert in San Diego in the early 90s. He was dreaming about how wonderful it would be to take his mother, Mildred, as a Mother’s Day gift.

Taylor Marie Orr, 24, is wanted for violation of probation for willful harm/injury to a child likely to produce great bodily injury.
Orr is white, 5’2” tall, 145 pounds, and her last known address is in Santa Barbara. If you have any information on her whereabouts please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (805)781-4550.
Anonymous tips can be provided by calling CrimeStoppers at 805-549-STOP.

On June 5 the students at Monterey Road Elementary School had a chance to play kickball with the Atascadero Police Department. Sgt. Jason Carr said that it was a fun event and the kids loved it. Atascadero Police Department personnel pictured with the students include Community Service Office Michele Schambers, Sgt. Jason Carr, Chief Hayley, Code Enforcement Officer Jon Jones and Community Service Lauren Purify.

ATASCADERO — Paul Sill of the San Luis Obispo County Garbagemen’s Association was joined by District Five County Supervisor Debbie Arnold as he presented the Atascadero Printery Foundation with a $5,000 donation.
The Atascadero Printery Foundation was founded by citizens of Atascadero who wish to preserve the rich heritage and historical importance of the Printery. The mission of the Atascadero Printery Foundation is to reclaim, restore, and repurpose the Atascadero Printery Building as a community-use, multi-purpose facility.

ATASCADERO — This summer join in the fun at the Tuesdays-in-the Park weekly community barbecue, every Tuesday evening from 5-7 p.m., at the Atascadero Lakeside Park, 9305 Pismo Avenue, from June 19 – Aug. 21.
The barbecue dinner prepared and served by the Atascadero Elks Lodge. The Atascadero Community Band will play each week from 7 - 8 p.m., rounding out an evening of family fun.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Kennedy Club Fitness held a spotlight class in each of their four locations during the month of May to raise awareness – and funds—for SLO County Food Bank’s Hunger Awareness Day.
Kennedy members danced, stretched, powered and more to raise $1,000.

Two vehicles sustained major damages after colliding on Morro Road near the bridge over Stadium Park at approximately 5:20 p.m. A white Toyota pickup sustained moderate damage to the left rear and a small, white sedan sustained major damages to the left front. No other details were immediately available. We'll update this story with more information when it's available.

NORTH COUNTY — Cal Fire SLO responded to two fires this week, one that started on June 3 at Lake Nacimiento which involved two structures and nearby vegetation continuing on to the next day, and another vegetation fire northeast of Paso Robles on June 5.
On Sunday, June 3 a structure fire broke out at 4:11 p.m. at Lake Nacimiento and spread to the nearby vegetation, igniting three to four acres at Lake Nacimiento Resort & Marina.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Caltrans will repave more than 16 lane miles of U.S. Highway 101 from Vineyard Drive overcrossing in Templeton to North Paso Robles overhead near the city, due to funding by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

PASO ROBLES — AIDS/LifeCycle® riders left their camp at the Mid-State Fairgrounds on June 6 and headed to their destination for the day in Santa Maria. More than 2,300 cyclists and almost 650 volunteers ‘roadies’ hit the road, but two of the riders would not make it to Santa Maria as they intended.

ATASCADERO — On June 5 at 4:14 p.m. Atascadero Fire and Police responded to a 20x10-foot vegetation fire at El Camino Real and Del Rio Road. The fire was next to the Fence Factory business and threatened one of their structures. Atascadero Fire Department personnel were able to fully contain the fire by 4:20 p.m.

TEMPLETON — Sofia Talarico took home a few awards and scholarships this May. The graduating Templeton Highschool (THS) senior received the prestigious “Eagle of the Year” award, as well as the Top Scholar Cumulative Award, STEM Award, Spanish Award, SAT Award, Life Science Award, CSF Award and the ACT Award. She also received three scholarships presented on scholarship night: The Monday Club Conservancy Fine Arts Award Scholarship, Vocal Arts SLO Scholarship and THS Drama Boosters Scholarship. Talarico will be attending UC Irvine, majoring in Musical Theater and Biology.

CUESTA GRADE — Several vehicles were burglarized at the parking area of the West Cuesta Ridge Trailhead on the Cuesta Grade on May 26.
The San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office is asking assistance from the public in identifying the suspect who is believed to have broken into six vehicles on May 26 parked at TV Tower Road.

PASO ROBLES — Missing for more than two weeks, Joshua Newsome, 15, from Paso Robles, hasn’t been seen by friends or family. Newsome has been missing since Monday, May 21. This is the longest time he has been away from friends and family and they are concerned for his well being.

PASO ROBLES — On June 5 the AIDS/LifeCycle® riders stopped to camp at the Mid-State Fairgrounds, 2198 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles.
Today June 6, more than 2,300 cyclists and nearly 650 volunteer 'roadies' will continue their journey. The cyclists will leave the Mid-State Fairgrounds campsite between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. in Paso Robles and head to Santa Maria. They have a lunch stop schedule at Cuesta college for 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will end their day and camp overnight at Preisker Park, 330 Hidden Pines Way in Santa Maria.

TEMPLETON — Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, which houses the only dedicated pediatric unit in San Luis Obispo County, and Twin Cities Community Hospital are leading a community effort to provide area children struggling with hunger with a healthy breakfast during the summer through its Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive benefiting The Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County. The drive kicks off Friday, June 1, and runs through Friday, June 8.

ATASCADERO — Who will you welcome into your family? Our host families represent the diversity of American culture, but they all share one thing: their lives have been changed by welcoming exchange students into their homes. A chance to learn about other cultures, provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a teenager, and form a relationship that will stay with you and your family.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The County-Clerk Recorder’s office would like to remind voters of some helpful hints for the upcoming election day this Tuesday, June 5. Here are five tips to make voting easier:
RETURN OF VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY: Make sure the identification envelope is signed before you return the ballot. Mailed vote-by-mail ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day and received within three days of Election Day are eligible to be counted. If you are dropping your VBM ballot in the mail on Election Day, get a “Circle Date Stamp” on your envelope at the mail counter. However, vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered at any polling place in this county or at the County Clerk-Recorder’s office in San Luis Obispo or Atascadero must be RECEIVED by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drive-by-Dropoff of VBM ballots is available at the Monterey Street side of the San Luis Obispo office at 1055 Monterey Street on Election Day. If you want to vote at the polls instead of voting by mail, take the ballot with you to surrender polls. If you have misplaced your ballot, you will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot at the polls.

NORTH COUNTY — Three fires broke out in the North County this week. The first was a building fire in the well known Mercantile of Santa Margarita. The others were vegetation fires: one on May 28 which was named the Toleman Fire and the other on Tuesday, May 29 called the Vineyard Fire.

ATASCADERO — Atascaderans had a chance Friday, May 25 to interact with their local law enforcement officers during the third Coffee with a Cop event at Malibu Brew coffee.
“Paul, the owner, is generous, donating the coffee and letting us set up here,” said Corp. John Taylor.

From left, Boy Scouts from Atascadero Troop 51 Brendan Haydon, Tanner Draper and Conall Brown performed a flag dedication ceremony for a new flag pole in front of the historic Atascadero Printery Building, donated by John and Barbie Butz and the entire Butz family. (Photo by Luke Phillips)

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Francisco Simon Wbaldo, 32, from Paso Robles, who was wanted for violation of probation for conspiracy to sell methamphetamine and North County’s Most Wanted last week turned himself in May 27.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office thanks all who helped spread the word.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Most Wanted subject from May 18, Christopher Burns, 39, was arrested and in custody in Las Vegas.
Burns was wanted for failing to appear in court for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/ cohabitant, false imprisonment, and willful cruelty to a child.

SANTA MARGARITA — Sheriff’s Detectives have located the remains of 38-year-old Jared Jay Walters, who was reported missing to the Atascadero Police Department on Feb. 26, 2016.
During the course of the investigation, Sheriff’s detectives received information that the remains of Walters were located in the 4100 block of Stagecoach Canyon road in rural Santa Margarita. On March 6, 2018, the Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at that location.

Food and Nutrition Services at Twin Cities Community Hospital has received the Award of Excellence from San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health Services. Food services staff was recognized for their exceptional efforts in food safety and sanitation, exhibiting an uncompromising commitment to providing consumers with safe and wholesome food.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Friday Night Live of San Luis Obispo County has awarded ten local high school seniors with the annual Friday Night Live (FNL) Scholarship. The FNL Board of Directors is proud to point the spotlight on Israel Vargas (Shandon HS), Alejandra Barrera (Atascadero HS), Courtney Basden (Atascadero HS), Julia Aurignac (Templeton HS), Haley Hurdle (Templeton HS), Haley Cudworth (Templeton HS), Amanpreet Mangat (Arroyo Grande HS), and Itzel Lopez Jaimes (Paso Robles HS) who each received $500 and were honored at FNL’s first Annual FNL Banquet on May 17 at 6 p.m. at the SLO Vet’s Hall. Natalie Ziegler (SLOHS) and Bianca Soto (Shandon HS) received $750 scholarships, given in the name of Casey Goodwin, a 20-year-old Cuesta College student and active youth alcohol-prevention advocate, who was killed by a drunk driver in March, 2003. These deserving seniors were recognized for their own advocacy, leadership, and commitment to healthy lifestyles for their peers.

TEMPLETON — The Wellness Kitchen’s Lead Chef, Evan Vossler joins creative genius Erik Soderholm, a chef with more than 25 years experience, to create a Teen Cooking Program starting May 31; plus June 7, 14, and 28 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at The Wellness Kitchen at 1255 Las Tablas Rd Suite 102 in Templeton.

TEMPLETON — Last weekend, May 12 and 13, over 120 avid Pickleball players from Central California met at the Templeton Tennis Ranch for a Round-Robin Doubles Skills Tournament. Twelve of our Atascadero Pickleball Club (APC) players won “Silver” and are pictured along with Pickleball Ambassador Kelly Forrestall. This tournament was one of APC’s fundraisers toward permanent courts. For more information about APC, call (805) 440-3914.
The pickleball tournament was also in memory of Judy Goehring who was co-owner of the Templeton Tennis Club and in support the Wellness Kitchen.

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero announced a new partnership with Kennedy Club Fitness, who will now offer the City’s annual Summer Aquatics programs at the Kennedy facility in Atascadero. All City sponsored summer aquatics lessons, classes and Family Swim will be held this summer at the Kennedy Club Fitness pool, and you do not have to be a member to enjoy the swim programs; Kennedy Club will honor the same rate and program to Atascadero City residents, the only difference is a new pool location. These City of Atascadero Summer Aquatics Program swim classes are valid at the Atascadero Kennedy Club location only and are not interchangeable with other club locations.

PASO ROBLES — On April 21, the SLO County community gave generously to support the work that CASA of San Luis Obispo County (CASA SLO County) is doing in the North County. $95,000 was raised during an evening of fine dining, local wines, silent and live auctions, and a raffle for a trip to Costa Rica.

If you haven’t been into Atascadero’s StyleHouse Furnishings in a while, you’re in for quite a pleasant surprise. StyleHouse Furnishings Atascadero is now under new ownership and has been newly renovated, restyled, and completely reimagined.
New owner Charlie Wilson, who completely transitioned into management of the store in June 2017, has showcased her near decade of furniture sales and interior design experience in the showroom and she transformed the former warehouse-style store into a sea of carefully placed pieces creating several complete living spaces spread throughout the store.

Principals and AUSD staff recognized retiring employees during a school board meeting ceremony Tuesday, May 15. The retiring staff received a glass trophy engraved with their name and how many years they served. The speeches about these employees brought a mixture of heartfelt gratitude, laughter and tears as many of the employees have worked as teachers and staff for upwards of 20 and 30 years.

ATASCADERO — A suspect was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after a brief foot pursuit along Curbaril Avenue.
According to a statement issued by the Atascadero Police Department, officers responded to a report of a shoplifter at the Smart & Final store at Curbaril Avenue and El Camino Real.
As police arrived at the scene the suspect fled on foot and police established a perimeter in the area of Curbaril, Sinaloa and Santa Ysabel Avenues.

ATASCADERO — On Friday a groundbreaking ceremony took place at 10 a.m. with Atascadero City Council and Park & Recreation Commissions at the Atascadero Lake Park. Today work will begin on the Atascadero Lake Park playground upgrades and replacement of some of the structures.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with the County Emergency Medical Services agency, has announced on May 16 that it is the first law enforcement agency in the County to begin carrying and administering Naloxone to victims of opioid overdose.
Naloxone is considered an “overdose antidote” and can reverse the effects of powerful opioids. In many cases, an overdose may cause a person to stop breathing and ultimately lead to death. Naloxone, which is also known by its brand name Narcan, is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a result of overdosing with heroin or prescription opioid pain medications.

ATASCADERO — A Santa Lucia Road resident called police May 8 after finding a stranger performing a lewd act in her home.
Cierra Romero called police at approximately 7:20 a.m. after finding Jose Arnolda Cantu, 39, of Atascadero, allegedly performing a lewd act on her couch.

“We’re not an antique store,” Owner Manuel Barba said. “We’re not a museum. We are a competitively-priced record store that caters to every person in this community. We get kids who come in with 20 bucks in their pocket and walk out with two records.”

“We are thrilled to be on our way to opening SLO County’s first public high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter clinic,” said Jill Tucker, Executive Director of Woods Humane Society. “Ensuring that spay/neuter services are both accessible and affordable is a critical component to creating a humane community. This new clinic will positively impact thousands of animals and the residents who care for them for years to come.”

On April 13, Kate Conrad (2nd grade) and Kristen Conrad (4th grade) were co-principals. On April 20, Izzi Smith (5th grade) was principal. And on May 18, Haley Suderman (7th grade) and Lily Suderman (7th grade) ran the school for a day.

ATASCADERO — On Wednesday morning May 16, seven defendants were sentenced for criminal involvement in a home invasion robbery that occurred in Atascadero on Feb. 11, 2017.
The seven defendants between the ages of 27 and 48. Six of the defendants were sentenced to five years in state prison for two counts of home invasion robbery in concert with another person with an enhancement for being armed with a firearm. Those six were Carnell Damahn Bowden, 36, of San Bernadino; Tamone Terrill Thompson, 38, of Hayward; Michael Christopher Bowden, 33, of Long Beach; John August Cichosz, 37, of Oakley; Daniel Gonzalez, 48, of Antioch; and Treaveon Eric Lamar Falls, 27, of Long Beach.

ATASCADERO — A vehicle pursuit in Atascadero Wednesday morning resulted in a motorcyclist being arrested and taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
On Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at approximately 11:17 AM, an officer from the Atascadero Police Department initiated a vehicle stop on a Harley Davidson motorcycle in the area of Olmeda and Rosario Avenues in Atascadero for vehicle code violations. The rider failed to yield to the officer and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The motorcyclist left city limits and reached speeds of 100 mph when headed eastbound on Highway 41 toward Creston. Officers requested an airship and patrol units from the California Highway Patrol to assist in the pursuit.

Atascadero Police and Fire personnel responded to a vehicle rollover at the intersection of Atascadero and Curbaril Avenues at approximately 6:25 p.m. Wednesday. There appeared to be two vehicles involved in the collision — a grey Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and a white Ford Explorer. All passengers appeared to be out of the vehicles and relatively unharmed. Medical technicians could be seen drawing blood from one of the drivers at the scene.

ATASCADERO — A suspect who was caught stealing a generator from a local business last week has been arrested in Santa Maria.
Rogelio Hinojosa, 30, of Santa Maria, walked into Glenn’s Repair and Rental on El Camino Real last week and walked out of the store with a generator worth more than $950 without paying.
Geoff Auslen, owner of Glenn’s Repair and Rental, witness Hinojosa picking up a generator and loading it into his car and called 911 to report the theft as the suspect drove away.

“We wanted moms to have a nice, low-key, not-real-fancy experience, at a nice site under the shade,” said Atascadero Mayor Tom O’Malley, who owns the Portola Inn property. He said he enjoys the picnic because it reminds him of his own family tradition.

PASO ROBLES — On Sunday, May 6, Paso Robles Police Department engaged in a time-honored tradition of donning their mourning bands — those little black bands on their badges — to remember night watchman, David Nathan Morehouse. Morehouse was the department’s only officer to the die in the line of duty on May 6, 1919. Morehouse was born on Aug. 4, 1860, and was appointed on Dec. 17, 1918, to the Paso Robles Police Department. His end of watch was marked on May 7, 1919, though he passed away on May 6 in the line of duty.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — On Wednesday, May 9 at 2 p.m., the Women’s Honor Farm Sewing Program in collaboration with the San Luis Coastal Adult School presented 39 handcrafted teddy bears made by the inmates to representatives of the Get on the Bus Program. Mary Thielscher, Regional Coordinator of the Central Coast Get on the Bus Program, along with other Get on the Bus representatives accepted the teddy bears.

PASO ROBLES — San Luis Obispo County resident Joshua Glenn Ritchie, 32, walked into McCarthy’s Wholesale at 43 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo April 29 with a paper copy of his driver’s license and asked to test drive a vehicle.
Ritchie picked out and took a white 2013 BMW X5 to test drive, but never returned the vehicle. At noon, McCarthy’s reported the vehicle stolen. San Luis Obispo Police Department officers were able to locate Ritchie driving the vehicle and a pursuit ensued.

PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles resident Nancy Colleen Woodrum, 62, went missing Saturday, May 5, at approximately 3:15 p.m. and was last seen at her home on 5800 block of El Pharo Dr. in rural Paso Robles. Family members reported Woodrum missing Saturday after they checked her residence and could not locate her after she missed an appointment on Saturday morning. She was last seen by neighbors on the afternoon of Friday, May 4. Her family had talked to her the previous night.

ATASCADERO — On Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services will be hosting their second annual Open House at Fire Station 1, located at 6005 Lewis Ave, Atascadero. This event will be an opportunity for the public to see the inner workings of fire and emergency services through interactive displays and activities; it is free to the public and all ages are encouraged to attend and enjoy all of the activities that are being planned. The open house is sponsored by the City of Atascadero, Atascadero Firefighters Association and the Atascadero Professional Firefighters Local 3600. The Atascadero Firefighters Association will provide BBQ hot dogs (while supplies last) and will be accepting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

ATASCADERO — A Waste Management trash truck caught on fire Wednesday, April 25 at around 2:04 p.m. While the truck was at the Colony Park Community Center on 5599 Traffic Way the driver of the truck noticed the fire and called the fire department.
Two engines, one command vehicle, and a public works dump truck and tractor were dispatched along with seven fire personnel and two public works employees.

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County is proud to announce Pacific Western Bank as the Presenting Sponsor for the eighth consecutive year for their “BIG Event” fundraiser on June 2. Their $6,000 gift brings the total to $42,000 in support of the agency’s mentoring programs.
Tom Strait, Executive Vice-President of Pacific Western Bank said, “Pacific Western Bank is honored to provide our continued support to Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County, their work enhances the quality of life for so many in our community.”

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Race SLO, the organizer of the San Luis Obispo Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay Races presented by Pacific Premier Bank, announced that Atascadero resident Robyn Schmidt will be inducted into the event’s Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 29, during the awards ceremony.
Schmidt started a Youth Cross Country program in Atascadero in 2009 with just a half a dozen athletes, and successfully grew it into an official Atascadero Junior High School running program with 50 participants, preparing students for high school running.

TEMPLETON —Her room was always a mess, she ate so many In-N-Out french fries she was pretty much a potato, she had a heart of gold and a smile that could light up your world. She loved to laugh and to live life to its fullest. That was Shelbs. Shelby Cora Sudbrink left this world too soon after an automobile accident on Jan. 6, 2017. She was just 17 years old. To honor her memory and the light she brought to everyone’s lives, through her laughter, her warmth, her open and welcoming soul, her talent on the field, court and classroom, the Shelby Sudbrink Memorial Scholarship Foundation was formed.

NEBRASKA CITY — National Arbor Day is Friday, April 27 this year and the Arbor Day Foundation is making it easy for anyone to celebrate the annual tree-planting holiday. Join the Foundation in April and receive 10 free shade trees.
By joining the Foundation in April, new members receive the following trees: red oak, sugar maple, weeping willow, baldcypress, thornless honeylocust, pin oak, river birch, tuliptree, silver maple, and red maple.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The SLO County Air Pollution Control District announced this week the availability of grant funding for school bus emission reduction projects. Since 2001, APCD grant funds have helped reduce pollution from 119 school buses in SLO County. This program is funded with local fees collected by the DMV, as well as state funds that are administered by the APCD. The primary goal of the program is to reduce the exposure of school children, as well as the general public, to both cancer-causing and smog-forming pollution. The program does not impose any regulatory requirements on school districts and their participation in the program is voluntary.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — CenCal Health, the healthcare provider for nearly 180,000 Central Coast residents, marked its tenth anniversary operating in San Luis Obispo County with an evening of celebration and community recognitions on March 28.
Dr. Rene Bravo, M.D., F.A.A.P. of Bravo Pediatrics, and CenCal Health Board Member, served as Master of Ceremonies for the tenth anniversary celebration and awards ceremony. Bravo recalled his own childhood experience having been on Medi-Cal, and how happy he is to be able serve the CenCal Health membership as a pediatrician.

PASO ROBLES — Applications for the 2018 California Mid-State Fair’s Mission Market Place are now available! The Mission Market Place is designed to showcase local products, both fresh and value added. It will give twenty artisans and growers a home to showcase their locally grown, packaged and/or hand-crafted items to over 420,000 fairgoers. Product examples could include things like honey, lip balm, apples, pies and cheese.
The Fair will provide each of the participants with product placement in the Mission Market Place located in Estrella Hall, the Fair’s largest indoor commercial building. Vendors must provide the product and pricing, and the Fair will do the rest. The Fair will staff the Mission Market Place, provide display options for most products and space for products with unique needs. Vendor spaces cost $400.00 plus 20% commission on products and services sold.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Transportation Security Administration has begun operating a second security lane at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. This important move comes before the airport sees additional flights and larger planes.
With the new bag screening lane, passengers are able to queue, divest and place their belongings through two different lanes.
“The move allows our travelers to get through security faster than ever before,” said Kevin Bumen, CM, CAE, Director of Airports. “TSA is committing additional resources to our airport because they see how we’ve been growing, and continue to grow.”

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The Board of Directors at Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County recently announced the appointment of the organization’s new CEO, Jenny Luciano.
“We are so pleased to have new, talented leadership at the helm for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County,” Board President Dave Axberg said. “ Jenny brings a wealth of fundraising, program development, marketing and communications experience to the team. She will be a strong asset in the short and long-term as we grow the agency and invest in making more mentor matches for children facing adversity here in San Luis Obispo County.”
“I am humbled and delighted to be selected as the new CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County,” Luciano said. “There are many children in our community that need our support. I am confident that through ou

Lyndee Rae Katz, 26, is wanted for violation of probation for possession of drugs on prison or jail grounds.
Katz is white, 5' 09" tall, 115 pounds and her last known address is in Paso Robles.
If you have information on her whereabouts please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 781-4550.
Anonymous tips can be provided by calling CrimeStoppers at 805-549-STOP.

UPDATE : Relatives are relieved and grateful that Stevens was found on Tuesday, April 10 and is now safe with family in Paso Robles.
The Atascadero Police is requesting the public’s assistance in the search of a missing man.
John Michael Stevens, 61, was last seen on Thursday, April 5. Stevens was seen walking eastbound through his apartment complex at 7775 Morro Rd. around 11 a.m.

CHOLAME — A four-vehicle car collision involving eleven people occurred on Friday, April 6 on the SR-46 east, west of the Y intersection in Cholame. It was a cloudy, dry and dark day shortly after 5 a.m. when Catherine Ann Fox, 60, of Paso Robles was driving eastbound on SR 46 in her 2012 Chevy Cruze. When for an unknown reason she made a turning movement into the westbound lane traveling at an unknown speed. She then struck a 2011 Nissan that was driven by Moises Hernandez, 28, from Avenal. Fox's Cruze side swiped Hernandez's Nissan which caused him to lose control.

ATASCADERO — The public is welcome to join ECHO, El Camino Homeless Organization for their 2018 Empty Bowls community luncheon on Thursday, April 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.The 3rd annual event benefits their mission to empower people to make positive change by providing food, shelter and supportive services.
Participants are treated to deliciously prepared soup served by local celebrities in a beautiful bowl for keeping. Some of the bowls are handmade by local artisan potters, some decorated by students from Atascadero and Paso Robles High Schools, Cuesta College and Atascadero Fine Arts Academy, and others come from the “eclectic collection” gathered by ECHO volunteers.
Empty Bowls, is scheduled to be held at the Atascadero Bible Church located at 6225 Atascadero Ave, will feature not only a variety of handmade soups, but also artisan breads prepared by more than a dozen local chefs and restaurants.

ATASCADERO — Each year the Atascadero Mutual Water Company (AMWC), strives to recognize those who have made the effort to landscape their homes and/or businesses in an aesthetic manner that is compatible with our local environment and resources.
Nominated landscapes should be designed to conserve natural resources and composed of at least 80 percent water-conserving plants, and have irrigation appropriate for the type of landscape and be located within the AMWC service area, as well as use permeable hardscape and mulch and requite minimal watering.

ATASCADERO —The mission of the Santa Lucia Sportsmen’s Association is to provide the community with a safe and controlled environment to learn and practice shooting sports. This mission includes offering programs specifically designed for women interested in the proper use and care of firearms. Women interested in learning can enroll in classes specially designed for them or go to the SLSA range and progress at their own pace.

TEMPLETON — Put your life experience to work with RSVP - Retired and Senior Volunteers program. Join many other seniors, age 50+ and over, who are taking time to help improve the lives of others. RSVP can match your talents and interests with community needs. Locally the opportunity available is with the Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center in Templeton.
The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center needs backup and on-call help. Volunteers help package meals on Tuesdays and pack and deliver meals to San Luis Obispo. Wednesdays the Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center needs help at the lunch counter, washing dishes and doing light office duties. They are looking for volunteers interested in health and wellness.
Call (805) 544-8740 for information on the above opportunity.

Christine M. Watkins, 32, of Atascadero, was walking westbound on Main Street on March 27 when she was hit by a vehicle at approximately 6:30 p.m. Maliysa L. Briggs, 39, of Templeton, was trying to exit a driveway north of 7th Street onto Main street when she struck Watkins with her 2016 Kia Soul.

ATASCADERO – Software engineer and father of three, Greg Saiki, 38, of Bakersfield won the first-ever Tent City Marathon in Atascadero Sunday. Saiki’s friend, Joshua Farrow, 34, also of Bakersfield, came in second. Proceeds from the marathon — along with a half-marathon, 10K and 5K — will benefit the Atascadero Printery Foundation.
“It’s the first marathon I’ve ever won,” said Greg Saiki, who barely looked tired after winning the marathon with a time of 2:56:10. The same could be said for Joshua Farrow, who finished less than a second after. Saiki said he lost track of how many marathons he has raced, but he estimated he’s run about 14.
“We train together and came to race together,” said Joshua Farrow, a retail manager and father of four, who won the 29-35 age group, while also coming in second overall with a time of 2:56:32.
“It turned out exactly as planned I think,” Farrow laughed, saying both friends ran their personal record times. “I was just trying to hold on to him [Saiki]. It was a beautiful race. On the way out, the hills didn’t seem that bad. The hills at the end seemed twice as big even though they were the same hills.”

Zentangle is the fun practice of meditation and art. Come experience the art of breath and intentional movement during a new class at ärt/, located at 5806 Traffic Way in Atascadero. The next class is on Saturday, April 14 from 12 to 3:30 p.m. The cost to attend the class is $37 for new students or $25 for continuing students and includes materials. Register by contacting Debbie Gedayloo at (805) 550-2487 or by emailing her at [email protected] (Contributed photo).

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — On March 15, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s office held a press conference to announce a narcotics drug ring bust. Five suspects, including the new ringleader, have warrants out for their arrest.

“We tried not to raise the prices too much so families can come and enjoy a good meal,” co-owner Rita Holladay said. These first weeks after opening, she has been gathering feedback from her customers to make sure they focus only the best dishes. “We want to keep it a small menu,” she added. “We want to dial this and make it as good as we can.”

A year ago, Matthew Frank, known as the SLOStringer, was on his way to cover a house fire in Atascadero during a rainstorm when he lost control of his Chevrolet Tahoe on Highway 101 near Santa Margarita and hit a tree, causing his vehicle to burst into flames. Frank, 30, passed away at the scene.
Frank was passionate about covering emergency events and giving the public an up-close look at the work of first responders. Some members of the public said he was like Batman — he was everywhere. A bat symbol sits at a memorial at the crash site, a fitting symbol of his superhero status.

ATASCADERO — A homeless encampment located between Highway 101 and the Atascadero Smart & Final store at Curbaril Avenue and El Camino Real was cleared this week with the Atascadero Police Department arresting four subjects at the camp for outstanding warrants and Caltrans crews clearing out the mess left behind.
“We have a camping ordinance we do enforce here in town,” Sgt. Caleb Davis with the Atascadero Police Department said. “If it’s within the city limits and not the 101 right-of-way, the public works department would respond to our request after the camp is cleared out of people. (We would) post, mark it and let them know that their belongings will be removed if they don’t remove it themselves. Then in an appropriate time frame we would remove their belongings.”
Photos courtesy of Caltrans District 5.

There has been a recall issued for Kidde Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms due to a compromised sensor, which poses a risk to consumers of not being alerted to a fire in their home. If you have a Kidde Smoke Alarm, check to see if your model is effected. Models being recalled are PI2010 and PI9010. For more information visit www.cpsc.gov. (Contributed photo)

The Atascadero Elks held their annual Police and Fire Association Dinner on March 28 and recognizing responders in public safety that went above and beyond their service. The Firefighter of the year was awarded to Captain Scott Hallett, the Community Service Officer of the year was awarded to Lauren Purify and the Officer of the Year was Officer Chris Galpin. (Contributed photo)

The PRJUSD Gallery is featuring artwork from the amazing fine art programs at Flamson and Lewis Middle Schools. On exhibit are pieces by students of Flamson’s Daniel Parks and Lewis’ Tracie Gonzales. Many pieces are for sale with student artists receiving 80 percent commission on all sales. The exhibit will be on display through May 15 at the Studios on the Park in Paso Robles. (Photos courtesy of PRJUSD).

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries is excited to announce a new community reads program, Book to Action. The library invites the community (high school age youth and adults) to read, discuss, and take action with this year’s title, “The 57 Bus”, by Dashka Slater.

PASO ROBLES — Thanks to years of planning and training, local law enforcement agencies say they are prepared for the possibility of an active shooter situation on campuses in the North County.
Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he met with the county’s police chiefs a few years ago and together they created a three-year plan to improve response and notification of training with local schools and were able to fund training and equipment through the Department of Homeland Security.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — A band of storms known as the ‘atmospheric river’ event started Tuesday and has continued to bring rain Thursday. The storm has caused widespread damage, road hazards and accidents throughout the region.

SAN LUIS OBISPO - A suspicious package was located near the front door of the San Luis Obispo County Jail on Tuesday at approximately 7 p.m. Staff walking near the entrance noticed the suspicious package by the front door and immediately reported it. Jail staff recently received death threats associated with protests against several deaths at the jail over the past few years including that of Atascadero man Andrew Holland, who died in 2017 after being restrained for nearly 48 hours.

NORTH COUNTY — In the morning hours of March 13, there were several accidents due to the rain in the North County. At 7:45 a.m. there was a two-vehicle collision on Geneseo Road, south of SR-46, in Paso Robles. No one was injured. At 8 a.m. on Northbound Highway 101, north of SR-58, there was a solo vehicle collision with a minor injury. Also on Highway 101, north of SR-58, at 9 a.m., there was another solo vehicle with no injuries reported. Shortly at 9:15 a.m. on SR-46, east off Branch Road, there was another solo vehicle collision with no injuries reported.

Kevin Bruce Duckworth, 32, is wanted for first degree burglary, grand theft of a firearm, grand theft over $950, receiving/purchasing stolen property, possession of a firearm by a felon, unlawful possession of ammunition, committing a felony with a prior prison term within the last 5 years, obstructing/resisting a peace officer.
Duckworth is White, 6’ tall, and 200 pounds. He is listed as a transient in North County.
If you have information on his whereabouts please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 781-4550.
Anonymous tips can be provided by calling CrimeStoppers at 805-549-STOP.

ATASCADERO — The Most Wanted subject from Nov. 15, Max Aaron Gerarden, has been arrested and booked into County Jail on Feb.. 7.
Gerarden was wanted for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant. His bail was set at $50,000.
Alejandro Rey Sanchez, our Most Wanted subject from early February, was taken into custody by Atascadero Police Department.

Templeton — On March 7 in Templeton Cal Fire and SLO County Fire responded to a vegetation fire on Santa Rita Road at 12:50 p.m. At that time the fire had a slow rate of spread and was just a quarter-acre. At 1:11 p.m. Cal Fire updated its report that crews were making good progress and the fire was at three acres. By 1:25 p.m. Cal Fire gave its final update as firefighter crews had stopped the forward spread of the fire. Crews were expected to mop up the fire for another two hours.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — On the evening of March 6, Mario Oseguera, 19, from San Jose, fled from police in a 2003 red Mercedes C240, leading them on a chase that spanned many cities and two counties. California Highway Patrol Officers from King City, Air Operations, Templeton, and San Luis Obispo all assisted in on the pursuit with speeds hitting more than 140 miles per hour.

SHANDON — On Monday, March 5 the California Highway Patrol Communication Center received a report at 5:47 a.m. of a head-on collision at the Shandon Rest Area on State Route 46. Per the California Highway Patrols report, when units arrived, the road was blocked between the rest area and Lucy Brown Road. At this location, both directions of travel utilize what will eventually be the westbound lanes on the northernmost portion of SR 46. The collision involved four vehicles, three of which were semi-trailer combinations.

SAN LUIS OBISPO – An inmate at San Luis Obispo County Jail assaulted a correctional deputy Tuesday. The 26-year-old correctional deputy was moving inmates from one section of the jail to another around 12:30 p.m. when one of the inmates charged the deputy and began punching the him multiple times in the head and face.

SHANDON – Just after 6 a.m. Tuesday on Bitterwater Road north of SR-58, a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe was involved in a single-vehicle accident. Five passengers from Avenal were involved in the accident and one died at the scene.
Veronica Ayala-Rea, 35, was driving the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe southbound on Bitterwater Road, 12 miles north of SR-58. Ayala-Rea failed to handle a curve in the road and crossed into the other lane and onto the dirt shoulder before rolling over multiple times. Two passengers not wearing their seatbelts — Alexis Jovani Ayala, 19, and Maria Rodriguez Tovar, 49, who were ejected from the vehicle. Alexis Jovani Ayla was transported to Kern Valley Medical Center and Rodriguez Tovar to Sierra Vista Medical Center.

PASO ROBLES – Tuesday evening at approximate 8:30 p.m. the Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services responded to an aircraft incident near the Paso Robles Airport. Arriving responders found an upright plane in a field just south of Dry Creek Road.
The plane, a single-engine Piper aircraft took off from the Paso Robles Airport with two passengers who had just had a brief layover from the Bay Area. A student pilot and his instructor experience engine failure before they reached full altitude.

The Atascadero Historical Society has plans to develop a historical site, the Colony Heritage Center, adjacent to downtown, and the Society’s President, Jim Wilkins, is raising funds for this project as a DWOS 2018 Community Star. Wilkins has been a moving force behind the Society’s many important projects since becoming its President in 2008 and now he will rumba his way into the lead of yet another project.

Friends of the Atascadero Library and Alice’s Bookstore started 2018 with a monthly raffle for a $20 gift certificate to the bookstore. January’s winner Mckenzie Werner is pictured here with store Manager Alice Rew and raffle coordinator Sharon Turner. Turner explained, “the raffle renews monthly with each customer receiving a ticket and a chance to win the monthly drawing.” Hurry in for your chance to win and support the library at the same time. (Contributed photo by Friends of the Atascadero Library)

The Atascadero Senior Center is looking for a volunteer to teach a computer class. We have the space, equipment and Senior Citizens, like Camille Szalma, who are eager to learn. The only thing missing is an instructor! If you are interested, please call 466-4674. (Contributed photo by Alex Zanini )

Atascadero — A two-vehicle accident on Highway 101 in Atascadero Sunday afternoon left an elderly driver dead and his passenger with major injuries.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Atascadero resident Thomas Cahill, 71, was driving a 1969 Alfa Romera convertible northbound on Highway 101 just south of the San Ramon exit when, for unknown reasons, he veered from the No. 2 lane into the No. 1 lane, colliding with a 2016 Hyundai sendan driven by 42-year-old Selma resident Melissa Smith before veering back to the right, onto the dirt shoulder and up an embankment. The vehicle overturned and Thomas Cahill, who was not wearing a safety belt, was ejected from the vehicle, sustaining fatal injuries. His passenger, Ruth Cahill, 72, was wearing a safety belt and was trapped inside the vehicle after it came to rest upside down. Ruth Cahill sustained major injuries as a result of the accident and was transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Volunteers will begin gathering signatures today to place the “Protect Our Water, Air, and Land: Ban Fracking and Oil Expansion in SLO County” Initiative on the November 2018 ballot. The initiative is sponsored by the Coalition to Protect San Luis Obispo County, a group of local volunteers working to protect local water, air and soil from pollution while encouraging a shift toward renewable energy, as called for in the county’s General Plan.

ATASCADERO — A garage fire was reported in the 9500 block of Casa Bella Court in Atascadero Saturday, Feb. 3. When firefighters entered through the garage door they found a vehicle on fire. Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services extinguished the fire within 20 minutes.

CALIFORNIA VALLEY — On Monday, Jan. 29 two individuals were found deceased in a residence located on the 12000 block of Arrow Bear Trail in California Valley.
At approximately 11:17 a.m. the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible deceased subject in a residence. Upon arrival, the Sheriff’s Deputies, along with California Game and Fish and Wildlife Warden’s, found two deceased individuals, Edward Chavez Mendoza, age 70, a resident of California Valley and his son, Edmundo Eduardo Mendoza Jr., age 37, also a resident of California Valley inside the home.

Soon-to-be kindergarteners who are five years of age on or before Sept. 1, and soon-to-be transitional kindergarteners who turn five years after Sept. 1 on or before Dec. 2 will be eligible to register at any of AUSD’s eight early elementary school programs, depending on each child’s school of residence.

ATASCADERO — Within the next month, Atascadero Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Jacki Martin will be analyzing an increase of 75 students since the beginning of the school year. She will be developing a budget with the enrollment numbers in mind.
“The numbers are fantastic!” Martin said, noting that official enrollment numbers are always calibrated the first week of October. “I’ve been here almost 15 years now… and I can’t recall a time when we’ve actually grown after Winter Break. That rarely happens. As a matter of fact to even grow at the starting of the school year is phenomenal,” she said.

Kathy Peterson and Lori Bickel, Committee for Atascadero Public Schools (CAPS) Chairpersons, presented the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees with an $80,000 check Tuesday at the school board meeting.

Atascadero — Shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12 four fire engines responded to a small fire in an outbuilding on the 1400 block of Chispa Road south of Atascadero. Firefighters arrived at the rural location just outside the city limits and were able to knock the fire down in moments. The fire was in Cal Fire jurisdiction and mutual aid was provided by the Atascadero Fire Department and Atascadero State Hospital Fire Department.
Nobody was hurt during the incident and no homes were damaged. The fire is thought to have been caused by improper discarding of ashes from a fireplace according to Clint Bullard, Fire Information Officer with Cal Fire.

Additional Articles

COUNTY — Put your life experience to work with Senior Volunteer Services and Central Coast Community Volunteers. Join many seniors, age 50 and over, who are taking the time to help improve the lives of others. SVS and CCCV can match your talents and interests with community needs. Call SVS at 805-544-8740 for information on any of the following opportunities.
RSVP — Retired and Senior Volunteer Program 55-and-older
Estrella Warbirds Museum & Woodland Auto Display — looking for volunteers that love aircraft (old & new) and old cars. You might enjoy joining our family of volunteers as a docent. Little training is necessary and lots of knowledge is available in Paso Robles.
Senior Peer Counseling — The Senior Peer Counseling program at Wilshire Community Services trains volunteers age 55+ to provide free in-home supportive counseling to seniors. Peer Counselors offer skilled listening and guidance to help older adults navigate the ups and downs of aging.

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) saw 485,911 passengers come through its doors in 2018. The amount is 19.2 percent higher than 2017’s 407,696 passengers, and sets the record for the most annual passengers in the airport’s history.
United Airlines enforced its position as the airport’s largest carrier, adding a second daily flight to Denver and bringing in larger planes on existing routes in 2018. With a total of ten daily flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver, the airline flew 279,326 passengers last year. American Airlines, which flies four flights a day to Phoenix, carried 158,780 passengers; Alaska Airline’s daily flight to Seattle carried 47,805. October was the airport’s best month of the year, as 46,514 total travelers passed through the terminal.

COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo presented a study to the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 15 that evaluated the fire protection services of certain special districts in SLO County.
The report described the challenges to sustainability, and impact to the County and County Fire Department if one, or more, special district elects to discontinue providing fire protection services.
At the Board’s direction, District 1 Supervisor John Peschong and District 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson will work together in an ad-hoc capacity to evaluate steps moving forward and report back to the Board at a future date.

ATASCADERO — Homeless in North County need your help. We are looking for volunteers who can chaperone at our Warming Center to help provide people who are suffering from homelessness a warm, safe place to sleep. The Warming Center is located at Dove Creek Church of the Nazarene and is typically open nights when the temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or when it’s raining. We need two chaperones per shift—There are two shifts per night—7 p.m. to 1 a.m. and 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.
The Center provides a warm, safe place from the elements during the winter months with a nice dinner meal, breakfast, and a bag lunch for the next day. There are typically 24 -28 people at any given night.

ATASCADERO — Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services has officially opened the Fire Hazard Reduction Burn Season. A reminder that the burn day status, whether it is a permissive burn day or not, changes daily and is determined by the California Air Resources Board and north county weather conditions. Residents must obtain the daily burn day status by calling 805-461-5070, Option 8.
Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services strongly encourages residents to utilize alternative forms of disposal, such as the Waste Alternatives’ Green Waste recycling container or the Chicago Grade Landfill. Burning should be used as a last resort.

COUNTY — San Luis Obispo County Assessor Tom Bordonaro Jr. would like to remind all homeowners, disabled veterans and eligible non-profit organizations that they may file claims for property tax exemptions.
The Homeowner’s Exemption exempts up to $7,000 in taxable value of a property if the claim is timely filed (or postmarked by Feb. 15,) and up to $5,600 if filed late (postmarked by Dec.10, 2019). If you received your Homeowner’s Exemption last year, and you still own and occupy the same property this year, you do not need to file again. Your exemption automatically remains in place.

COUNTY — As influenza activity increases nationwide and in San Luis Obispo County, the County Public Health Department reminds residents to take common-sense precautions to protect themselves and the community from the flu. This reminder follows a recent increase in local laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza and the death of one San Luis Obispo County resident from complications of the flu. The resident was over age 60 and had several underlying conditions that make people more vulnerable to severe complications of influenza.

ATASCADERO — A vehicle collision at Old Morro Road on Jan. 24 caused State Route 41 to be closed for most of the day, according to Caltrans.
At about 3:21 a.m. a solo driver in a 2015 Mazda 3, collided with a power pole on Highway 41. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Where he was treated and released.

Some $300,000 in budget cuts expected to be enacted in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 budget years have been a long time coming, said Templeton Unified School District Superintendent Joe Koski.
That doesn’t mean they’re happy about having to make the reductions, he added, but it does eliminate the appearance of a crisis, which other nearby districts have recently experienced.
Sheldon Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for San Luis Obispo County’s Department of Education concurred noting his department was, “Confident that Templeton will be able to make required cuts and meet their obligations,” as they’ve been checking in with the TUSD’s budget progress five times a year.

COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo will receive funding to support outreach efforts for the 2020 U.S. Census and help ensure a complete, fair and accurate count locally.
On Tuesday, Jan. 15, the County Board of Supervisors supported the County’s participation in the Census and accepted $100,000 in funding for the County’s participation. County staff will convene a Complete Count Committee of representatives from cities, schools and local community organizations to develop a strategic plan for regional activities to increase the census response rate and assist in implementing that plan.

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office announced on Wednesday, Jan. 9 that Smart911 is now available in San Luis Obispo County. Smart911 is a free service that allows individuals and families to sign up online to provide key information to 9-1-1 dispatchers during an emergency.
Smart911 allows the public to create a Safety Profile at www.smart911.com for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 dispatcher, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information.

COUNTY — Community volunteers are needed to provide in-home companionship and respite care to hospice patients in San Luis Obispo County and the Santa Maria Valley, according to Central Coast Hospice.
Central Coast Hospice has been providing medical and social services to those with a terminal diagnosis in all of San Luis Obispo County for over seven years. Volunteers are an important part of the program. They provide supervision to patients while their family caregivers take a break or run errands, assist with light household tasks, provide emotional support and socialization, and help with miscellaneous, yet important tasks — like organizing family photos or helping the patient write letters to their loved ones.

COUNTY — Cuesta College’s spring semester begins Jan. 22 and students can continue signing up for classes through Feb. 3. Classes are still available in many areas including art, English, foreign languages, music, and more. Also offered are free Emeritus College non-credit courses for lifelong learners. Open classes may be viewed by clicking here.
New this spring are several student services initiatives. This January, Cuesta College is opening two new Dreamer Centers at the San Luis Obispo and North County campuses to support undocumented students and their families. The centers are made possible through a grant awarded to Cuesta College by the California Catalyst Fund — a private funding source focused on creating equitable opportunities for student learning at institutions of higher education. The college is one of 32 campuses throughout California that received support from the grant.

COUNTY — The No. 2 (middle) and No. 3 (right) lane of southbound US 101 will be closed from the top of Cuesta Grade to south of Old Stagecoach Road beginning Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. until Thursday, Jan. 24 at 5 a.m., weather permitting, according to Caltrans.
These lane closures will allow Caltrans to repair the roadway where a sinkhole is developing. This roadwork will also include the removal and replacement of a failed drainage culvert beneath those lanes.
Motorists should expect to slow in this construction zone and anticipate delays not to exceed 15 minutes.

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building is asking for the public’s input as the department works on updates or amendments to the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance (Public Review Draft), formerly known as the Secondary Dwelling Ordinance.
Under direction of the Board of Supervisors, Planning and Building staff are working on Phase II of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance to encourage development by removing unnecessary barriers. As part of this effort, the County has reviewed existing restrictions and limitations on secondary dwellings throughout the unincorporated areas of the County and has released the Accessory Unit Ordinance Public Review Draft.

COUNTY — It’s time to pull out that long overdue library book because January is Fine Amnesty Month for County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries.
Regardless of how overdue an item is, all County Library branches will waive all overdue fees, clearing the account for checkout of new materials. Fine forgiveness does not apply to fees charged for lost materials, however.

COUNTY — San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building is seeking public comment on amendments to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and Affordable Housing Fund.
Under direction from the SLO County Board of Supervisors, the Department of Planning and Building has been working on a 3-year pilot program that would raise between $2 to $4 million per year in local funding for affordable housing. These funds will be awarded to non-profit developers to build affordable housing in the County.
As part of the pilot program, the Board authorized the Department of Planning and Building to modify the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and Affordable Housing Fund. The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance requires new housing developments to either include a percentage of affordable units or pay “in-lieu” fees into the County’s Affordable Housing Fund.

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero is currently seeking to fill two positions on the Planning Commission and two positions on the Citizen’s Sales Tax Oversight Committee. All applicants must be residents of the City of Atascadero. Completed applications will be accepted in the City Clerk’s office until Friday, Jan. 11, at 5 p.m. Those interested in applying for either the Planning Commissions or the Citizens’ Sales Tax Oversight Committee (CSTOC) may obtain applications on the City’s website homepage at www.atascadero.org under the “Latest News” section; in person at City Hall located at 6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero; or by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 805-470-3400.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust awarded a grant of $20,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters in support of the agency’s school-based youth mentoring programs. With this $20,000 gift, their total contributions in support of the agency’s school-based mentoring programs amount to $140,000 since 2012.
The school-based program pairs high school and college students with elementary students for weekly supervised group and individual activities taking place at elementary school sites. The program creates an exceptional bond between at-risk children and older students who have volunteered to support them. A group of carefully selected high school and college student mentors travel to their partner elementary school once each week for the entire school year.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — 4-H in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties is still looking for a volunteer camp director to coordinate the 2019 4-H summer camp, Camp Wahoo! Camp Wahoo! is expected to take place at Camp Yeager in Cambria from July 28 to 31.
Camp Wahoo! 4-H summer camp is an experience that is fun for both youth and adults. Generally, a weeklong residential camp experience for Camp Wahoo! campers ages 9-13.
The 4-H camp director would work closely with the 4-H Office to coordinate and put on the camp for both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. It is scheduled to take place, but if a camp director position is not filled by Jan. 15, the camp will, unfortunately, need to be canceled for 2019.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Young Professionals Networking Group (YPNG) presented Big Brothers Big Sisters with a $5,200 check from the proceeds of its annual Monte Carlo night. The Casino Royale themed event was held in the Venetian Room at the Madonna Inn.
Tatiana Mendoza, former Big Brothers Big Sisters program director and YPNG treasurer says, “Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of our community partners, who we fundraise for through several events each year. This year Big Brothers Big Sisters was the beneficiary of our Monte Carlo event because we wanted to help the agency serve more children. We were able to fundraise enough to serve four match relationships for one year.”

STATE — Caltrans announced Monday that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated more than $600 million in funding for hundreds of transportation projects, which includes $80 million from SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
“Caltrans will focus on repairing and rehabilitating the state highway system by improving pavement, bridges, culverts, and intelligent transportation systems, which are included in the performance requirements of SB 1, to improve transportation for all of our residents and visitors, no matter their mode of transportation,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman.

COUNTY — Each year, the program helps an average of 650 community members meet basic needs while they pursue employment or long-term disability benefits. This is the first major update in 25 years.
On Nov. 6, the Department of Social Services took a resolution to the Board of Supervisors to update guidelines for the County’s General Assistance program. The General Assistance program is a last resort to support indigent County residents who have no other available means of support. This program was established in San Luis Obispo County in February of 1993 and has not had any major program updates in the 25 years since it was established.

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, along with a number of law enforcement agencies nationwide, received reports on Thursday, Dec. 13, of a bomb threat being emailed to various entities, primarily businesses. Usually included in that threat was an extortion demand for money in the form of bitcoin to avoid the detonation of the bomb.
As of this time, all of these threats have proven to be unfounded, according to officials.

ATASCADERO — The County’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) programs and plans will be the focus of a town hall presentation and meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Atascadero’s Community Library, Polin Community Room, 655 Capistrano Ave.
The event is open to the public and will provide an overview of the MHSA, including programs operating in the South County.
The meeting will be facilitated by Behavioral Health’s Prevention and Outreach Division Manager, and MHSA Coordinator, Frank Warren, and will include presentations on a variety of community-based programs. The meeting will also provide information on current planning and funding, as well as invite community members to identify issues which may need to be addressed in the future.

ATASCADERO — After the holiday festivities are over and residents start to look forward to the coming year, Waste Management encourages customers in the City of Atascadero to recycle their tree through its curbside collection program.
Waste Management will collect trees for residents in the City of Atascadero from Dec. 26 through Jan. 12 on customers’ scheduled collection day.
When placing trees on the curb for collection, customers should follow these guidelines:
Remove all decorations including tinsel, lights, ornaments, tree stands; flocked trees cannot be recycled please do not place in green waste cart
Cut trees into 3-foot pieces and place inside the green waste cart

ATASCADERO — The new Atascadero Business Improvement District (ABID) Committee and the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce announced the return of funding in the Downtown Parking and Business Improvement District, which will be utilized for new and improved parking areas, downtown wayfinding and streetscape improvements, beautification projects, events and promotions.
The Downtown Business District will be funded by a special annual assessment collected with business license applications and renewal fees from businesses located within the improvement area.

COUNTY — The burn permit suspension in San Luis Obispo County was lifted on Saturday, Dec. 1.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) San Luis Obispo Unit Chief Scott Jalbert formally canceled the burn permit suspension and advised that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days only.
Agriculture burns must be inspected by Cal Fire prior to burning until the end of the peak fire season. A valid permit from the Air Pollution Control District is also required for all burning, allowed only on permissive burn days. Inspections may be required for burns other than agriculture burns. This can be verified by contacting the Air Pollution Control District.

ATASCADERO — The holiday Business Mixer at Pacific Premier Bank is a festive event for business leaders to connect and build relationships. The Business Mixer will take place Dec. 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Pacific Premier Bank in Atascadero.
Holiday decorations will adorn the inside of the bank for the attendees. While chamber members connect, they can enjoy appetizers and refreshments. La Parrilla Mexican Restaurant and John Hernandez-Borjan will be serving treats. Vintage Cowboy Winery and Bristols Cider House will be pouring drinks. Lights and music will be taken care of by Medina Light Design.

SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection announced the availability of up to $ 155 million for Fire Prevention and Forest Health projects. Cal Fire is soliciting applications for projects that will help prevent catastrophic wildfires and restore forest health while also sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Cal Fire’s Fire Prevention Grants Program will provide funding for local projects that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential to communities in, and adjacent to, forested areas. Qualified activities include hazardous fuel reduction, fire planning, and fire prevention education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety.

COUNTY —All County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries are now offering cardholders free access to online educational courses from Lynda.com.
Now owned by LinkedIn, Lynda.com has been the leading provider of online learning content for 20 years. The service has more than 12,000 courses, ranging from computer programming to project management including instruction on various computer software, programming languages, and business topics. The video courses are taught by industry experts and are designed for any skill level. Lynda.com also offers more than 50 different learning paths to help users stay ahead in their current job or change careers.

COUNTY —Wilshire Community Services trains volunteers to assist isolated older adults all over San Luis Obispo County, but they are currently experiencing a shortage of volunteers in North County areas. Would you be willing to provide some simple daily activities such as friendly visits, transportation help, groceries, and errands, or pet walking?

ATASCADERO — A fire Wednesday, Nov. 14, evening displaced people from a Sycamore Road residence, the Atascadero Fire Department reported.
At 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 14, the call came in that there was a structure on fire on Sycamore Road. At approximately 4:51 p.m. units arrived on scene and found a single story, metal structure, converted into a residential unit, ablaze. The metal structure, wood fence, an automobile, and vegetation caught on fire too per officials.

TEMPLETON — Templeton Recreation is inviting local students to compete in a T-shirt design contest. The winning drawing will become the 2018 logo for this year’s Jingle All the Way 5K Fun Run and Walk on Saturday, Dec. 8.
All designs must be completed by a resident of Templeton or student of Templeton schools who are under the age of 18. Submissions will be accepted through Tuesday, Nov. 20, with the winner being announced Tuesday, Nov. 27.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (RTA) received a $6.285 million grant on Sept. 25 to help fund the construction of a new administration and bus maintenance facility.
“I am very appreciative of the partnerships that it took to procure the land for the new administration and maintenance facility, and this project would never have happened without the support of SLOCOG, CAPSLO and the City and County of San Luis Obispo,” said Geoff Straw, Executive Director of RTA. “This grant is a significant step forward in developing a long term solution for the RTA’s needs.”
The grant comes as a result of the Federal Transit Administration Buses & Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program, which makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. The FTA received 255 applications for this grant and SLORTA received the largest amount in the State of California.

The weed abatement actions typically cost $37,000 in staff time, not counting the $24,000 spent on noticing and inspection before crews are needed, Rickard said.
The report prepared by the City’s Fire and Emergency Services staff notes that the Fire Marshal conducts an initial weed inspection during the month of April of the approximately 11,188 parcels within the City, with notices then mailed to those deemed a potential threat.

CRESTON — Several small fires broke out in the afternoon along Creston Road on Sunday, Sept. 2, according to Cal Fire San Luis Obispo.
One of the fires at Creston and Neal Springs Road threatened houses and homes had to be evacuated. One vacant and abandoned home was fully involved in the blaze and destroyed, according to Chris Elms with Cal Fire SLO.
“Engine companies were very quick to mitigate the threat to the houses,” Elms said.
The fire was contained later in the evening before 8 p.m. and evacuated residents from the area were let allowed back into the home.

Atascadero’s best and worst kept secret saw the town’s name popping up in international tabloids and spiking in Google search alerts Wednesday, Aug. 29 as news broke that singer-songwriter Neil Young and actress Daryl Hannah held a “secret wedding” involving a reception in the City the weekend before.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed on Tuesday, Aug. 28, sweeping legislation, in the works for several years, to eliminate cash bail in the state. Set to take effect in a little over a year, October 2019, Senate Bill 10, which passed with a California Senate vote of 26-12 on Aug. 21 bred unusual bedfellows in opposition.

The public is invited to attend a book giveaway on Saturday, Sept. 1, Sunday, Sept. 2 and Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Book Room Annex located at 65 S. Main St., Ste. 102 (kitty-corner from Templeton Donuts).

SACRAMENTO — California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) offers a College Fee Waiver Program for eligible veteran dependents. The CalVet College Tuition Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus.

COUNTY — Put your life experience to work with Senior Volunteer Services and Central Coast Community Volunteers. Join many seniors, age 50 and over, who are taking the time to help improve the lives of others. SVS and CCCV can match your talents and interests with community needs. Call SVS at 805-544-8740 for information on any of the following opportunities.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with Mondelēz International, Inc., Pepperidge Farm Inc. and Flowers Foods, Inc. and have initiated voluntarily recalls of certain products due to a potential risk that one of the ingredients may have been contaminated with Salmonella. Recalled foods include a variety of Mondelēz’s Ritz cheese sandwiches and Ritz Bits cheese products, certain Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish, and Flowers Foods’ Swiss Rolls sold under various brand names. Additional information about each specific recall is available on the FDA website at fda.gov/safety/recalls/. The FDA recommends people discard or return any recalled product to the store where it was purchased.

ATASCADERO — In prior elections,voters who missed the 15-day close of registration deadline were not qualified to vote in an upcoming election. Today, new legislation allows voters who missed the May 21 deadline to complete a Conditional Voter Registration (or Same Day Registration) process and cast their ballots at the County Elections Office up to and including Election Day. All votes will be e counted after the elections official verifies the voter’s registration and confirms the voter has not yet voted elsewhere in the current election.

ATASCADERO — Fire and Emergency Services would like to remind residents that clearing weeds by June 1 is mandatory.
If weeds are not cleared by June 1, a City contractor will be authorized to clear the hazardous weeds and/or refuse on un-cleared parcels. If the City contractor clears the weeds, the individual property owner will be billed at 150% of the total Contractor’s cost. Those charges will then be assessed on the individual’s property tax bill.

NORTH COUNTY — Put your life experience to work with Senior Volunteer Service (SVS). Join with many other seniors, age 50+ and over, who are taking time to help improve the lives of others. SVS can match your talents and interests with community needs. Call SVS at (805) 544-8740 for information on any of the following opportunities.

ATASCADERO — The League of American Bicyclists recognized Atascadero Unified School District with a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business award, joining over 1,000 visionary businesses across the country that have received the award this May.
With the announcement of 114 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Businesses today, Atascadero Unified School District joins a cutting-edge group of 1,200 current Bicycle Friendly Businesses, made up of local businesses, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies in all 50 states and Washington, DC, that are transforming the American workplace.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — A project to improve six miles of US Highway 101 from San Miguel to Camp Roberts will continue on Wednesday, May 30 with a traffic switch to allow for the reconstruction of southbound US Highway 101 from 10th Street to the intersection with San Marcos Road. Temporary striping will begin at 6:30 a.m. with the full traffic switch expected in the afternoon.

PASO ROBLES — The driver of a 2007 Ford Mustang died in a fatal collision with a semi truck Monday, April 30 on State Route 41 north of an olive farm near Cholame.
The driver has not yet been identified pending notification of next of kin.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Sheriff Parkinson and the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation (SAF) announced on April 25, that plans are moving forward for a new Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) at the San Luis Obispo County Jail. The BHU will provide behavioral therapy services and housing for inmates suffering from mental illness.
Sheriff Parkinson met with the SAF to discuss the idea of private funding for the BHU. Parkinson has stated numerous times that this is an issue that affects the community as a whole, so it is natural to make this a community-funded facility. The SAF is in support of the project and has identified it as one of their major projects.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Earlier in April the Board of Supervisors took action approving the list of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 road paving projects for submittal to the California Transportation Commission required by the Road Repair and Accountability Act, Senate Bill 1 (SB1). The road segments have been selected from the five-year asphalt overlay list of the Pavement Management Program available at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

NORTH COUNTY — In the United States, the Cinco de Mayo holiday is often associated with parties and alcohol. If you’re celebrating with friends and family this weekend, remember that at the end of the night, you need to have a safe and sober ride home. Police, Sheriff and the CHP will be out in force looking for the telltale sign of impaired driving this weekend.
In the rush to prepare for a night out, it’s easy to forget the most important Cinco de Mayo plan of all: designating a sober driver. Some may think they can play it by ear and wait until after the party has started to decide whether they’re “okay to drive.” By this point, it’s too late. Going out for a night of drinking without a plan for getting home safely is a recipe for disaster.

ATASCADERO — This week, the Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press, along with several area businesses, will launch an exciting new campaign designed to highlight the goods and services offered locally in north San Luis Obispo County. The year-long ‘Community Unity’ campaign will kick off with a special four-page insert in today’s paper and participating businesses will have a variety of posters, window clings, mats, pens and other fun items to show that they are participating in the campaign.
The theme is “Shop, Play, Stay” and the purpose of the project is to encourage residents to support local businesses.

ATASCADERO — After review of a case involving allegations of battery, involving Atascadero High School teacher Christopher Ferree, the District Attorney’s office has determined there is insufficient evidence to file criminal charges.
The investigation of Mr. Ferree was initiated by the Atascadero Police Department in November of 2017, and involved Mr. Ferree’s actions while addressing a student who was disrupting class activities. The general concern was that Mr. Ferree’s physical response to the student’s conduct was excessive.

SACRAMENTO — Wednesday, Uber announced a new security feature that will allow users to contact 911 via the Uber app. Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham praised the move as a step forward since a recent incident in San Luis Obispo when an Uber driver was charged for burglarizing and sexually assaulting four young victims.

ATASCADERO — A Vietnam-era Air Force veteran who recently moved to Atascadero to be with family will be given a warm community welcome along with a set of keys to a practically brand-new car as a thank you for his service to our country.
The car donation is from Caliber Collision and Allstate in partnership with the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides™ program which repairs and donates cars to help individuals and families rebuilding their lives.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building, Code Enforcement will begin weekend and holiday on-call service to the unincorporated areas of the county. Beginning on Friday May 4, residents can call (805) 788-2350 and speak directly with the on-call County Code Enforcement Officer.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — A project to improve eight miles in both directions of US Highway 101 from San Miguel to Camp Roberts in Monterey County will continue on Wednesday, April 11 with pothole repair in the following locations:
Motorists traveling southbound on US Highway 101 will be realigned onto a different section of the highway near the San Marcos Road intersection on Wednesday, April 11 and Thursday, April 12 from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Motorists traveling northbound on US Highway 101 will be realigned onto a different section of the highway near the San Marcos Road intersection on Thursday, April 12 from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Motorists can expect delays in this area from 15 to 30 minutes. Motorists should allow extra time while traveling in this area.

CHOLAME — Recently the California Transportation Commission approved nearly $134 million in project funds to construct an overpass at the Cholame “Y” intersection on Highway 41/46. The deadly section of highway has been known locally as “blood alley” for years. Recently, a four-car collision involving 11 people left two dead and four with major injuries.
“This section of highway is critical to our economy, but currently has a fatality rate that is three-times the state average,” said assemblyman Jordan Cunningham. “These investments will save lives.”

DAVIS — USDA Rural Development California State Director Kim Dolbow Vann highlighted key efforts by the department to address opioid misuse in rural communities on April 4.
“Opioid misuse has led to a dramatic decrease in quality of life, especially in rural areas where access to resources may be more limited,” said Vann. “We are working hard to bring all of our assets to the table in partnership with local efforts to help combat this epidemic where it is needed most.”

ATASCADERO— Parent’s Helping Parents (PHP) is holding a Toy and Book Exchange from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m at the Atascadero office. The toy and book exchange is a great chance to trade out some of the gently used play things your child no longer uses and bring home something new-to-you.
Who might come to this Get Connected Toy Exchange for Parents Helping Parents? A parent or caregiver of a child with speech delay, sensory issues, learning challenges, developmental delay, Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and other disabilities.
Caregivers who wish to connect with others who understand the extra challenges, may call (805) 543-3277 for more information.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — County Public Libraries are once again celebrating National Library Week by helping to end hunger in our community. Food for Fines Week takes place April 9 to 14 at all county library branches, in partnership with the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County.

ATASCADERO — Due to the recent heavy rainfall which has resulted in a number of potholes to occur throughout town, the City of Atascadero would like to share some important and timely information regarding the City’s roads.
Atascadero residents are strongly encouraged to report potholes located in City maintained roadways, either by calling the Public Works Department at 805-470-3148, or by visiting the City’s website at www.atascadero.org and navigating to “I Want To”, “Report”, and then specifying the location of the pothole. During dry weather, potholes are typically repaired within a week or two of reporting the pothole to the City. Other unsafe street conditions such as street light issues and dead animals may also be reported to the City in a similar manner.

Atascadero — Enjoy familiar American Folk songs and “Music of the Wild West” at the Atascadero Community Band concert on Sunday, May 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. Concert will take place at the Atascadero Bible Church, 6225 Atascadero Ave.

Atascadero — American Traditions: Poetry and Quilting exhibit starts on April 2 at the Atascadero Library.
An open invitation to the public for the reception Thursday, April 5. The reception is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and will introduce the exhibit. Light refreshments served at the reception.

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Library will be holding the upcoming programs at the library.
Preschool Storytimes - scheduled on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Stories and songs will be shared.
Toddler Storytime - specifically designed for toddlers every Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. Stories, rhymes, music and finger plays will be shared.
Rhyme Time Storytime- In celebration of Poetry Month, toddler time will feature poems and rhymes. Fri., April 13 at 10:30 a.m.
Craft Club - Come make a fun project! Tues., April 3 at 3:30 p.m. Registration required. Ages 6 to 12.
Zoo To You- Learn fun facts about animals at this Conservation Ambassador Program. Weds., April 4 at 3:30 p.m. All ages.

San Luis Obispo County — The San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District (SLO County APCD) and State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Division (OHV) have reached an agreement on a proposed mitigation approach to reduce particulate emissions at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). The proposed mitigation approach will be heard by the SLO County APCD Hearing Board on March 21, 2018, at 9 a.m. at the San Luis Obispo City Council Chambers (990 Palm Street in San Luis Obispo).

San Simeon — Hearst Castle’s evening tours have just begun a new season. Visitors to the Castle will experience the magnificent site illuminated at night.
The evening tours feature the Living History Program, which evokes the heyday of this great estate. Docents in elegant attire from the 1930s recreate a sense of the social life of William Randolph Hearst’s guests, as they socialize in the Assembly Room or other areas of the Castle. Other docents portray household staff attending to the needs of Mr. Hearst’s guests.

Atascadero — The Atascadero Planning Commission took the first steps Tuesday toward bringing a business back to the creekside property in Colony Square, the former location of Atascadero City Hall, which has been vacant since 2013.
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a tentative parcel map that would subdivide the parcel into three separate properties. The City would retain two of the parcels — a 9,000 square-foot area on the west side of the property that serves as the landing for the recently constructed pedestrian bridge over Atascadero Creek and a 6,000 square-foot area at the east side of the property that serves as the Atascadero Transit Center. The third parcel, a 1.82-acre area with an office building will be sold. The land and building are currently owned by the successor agency to the City Redevelopment Agency, which was dissolved by state mandate in 2012.

ATASCADERO — A project to place a protective overlay on US Highway 101 from the Traffic Way Undercrossing in Atascadero to the Vineyard Drive Overcrossing in Templeton will continue through next week. This project which is designed to extend the life of the pavement was suspended earlier this winter due to colder temperatures which made resurfacing the highway unsuitable.

CALIFORNIA VALLEY —The Coroner’s Unit of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office released the cause and manner of death of the father and son who were found deceased in their home in California Valley on Jan. 29.